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129 THATCHER, Margaret. Autograph letter signed, thanking her hosts during her recent visit to Norfolk. 14 January 1974 Margaret Thatcher writes a warm and revealing letter to Sir Frederick Lincoln Ralphs and his wife, thanking the pair for hosting her during her visit to Norfolk schools while Education Secretary, and commenting “you have certainly built up a wonderful team, but then that is the essence of good leadership”. Thatcher visited Norfolk over 11–12 January 1974, in which time, in a packed schedule, she opened one school and visited various others. Thatcher writes: “Dear Lincoln and Enid, A very warm thank you to you both for giving me such a wonderful time in Norfolk. It was so nice to stay with you at your beautiful home. It was particularly good to be able to relax and talk with you at the end of the day. Both of you spoiled me thoroughly – and I loved it! The programme you arranged was one of the most interesting I have ever done”. Thatcher’s stay with the couple was recorded by Gillian Shephard: “Everyone I knew within the educational world was intrigued by the Secretary of State. She was already a controversial figure. Many were far from supportive, but the then Norfolk Chief Education Officer, Sir Lincoln Ralphs, himself an influential figure on the national education scene, admired her ideas and her vigorous approach. The feeling may have been mutual . . . Thatcher spent her two brief nights during the tour with Sir Lincoln and Lady Ralphs at their home in Norwich. Lady Ralphs recalls Mrs T. discussing which dress she should wear for the school opening and visits – she had brought several with her. Finally a red one was chosen, as ‘children like red’ . . . She also went out of her way to chat to Lady Ralphs’s elderly mother, who was keen to meet the famous guest staying in the house” (Shephard). Ralphs (1909–1978), in a long career in the field of education, was President of the National Union of Students from 1934 to 1936, President of the International Confederation of Students from 1937 to 1938, and Chief Education Officer for Norfolk from 1950 to 1974. In the 1973 Birthday Honours he was made a Knight Bachelor. 2 pages on 1 leaf, 209 × 148 mm, secretary of state for education letterhead
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criticized as dehumanizing human resources – “his methods were anathema to trade unionists almost everywhere” ( PMM ) – many of the principles have now become core components of modern business leadership. Previously Taylor’s works on the subject were technical and for a smaller audience. He established his reputation as the foremost expert on factory management and delivered lectures to businesses on his principles. “In 1911 Taylor converted his standard lecture into a short book, The Principles of Scientific Management , which became an immediate bestseller and ultimately the most popular business book of the first half of the century” ( ANB ). The private edition was issued in March, preceding the trade edition which was issued in April. It includes a foreword not in the trade edition, and with a slightly different introduction. “Taylor attempted to determine scientifically how much a worker could accomplish in a given time by breaking tasks down into what he termed ‘elementary motions’, eliminating the unnecessary ones and combining the rest into an optimum series for maximum efficiency. He sought to eliminate the traditional inefficient rules of thumb followed by most labourers, replacing them with precisely determined tasks set out by a managerial planning department and performed with standardized tools and methods” (Norman). The principles were adopted internationally across varying economic systems, from America with its mass-production factories which made possible the consumer age, through to post- First World War Germany where they are credited as contributing to the rapid economic recovery of the country, and to Soviet Russia as a key part of their five-year plans. Octavo. Original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, covers ruled in blind. Housed in custom green morocco-backed solander box. Minimal bumping and rubbing at extremities, short marginal tear at fore edge of pp. 73–76, still a very good copy. ¶ Downs, Books That Changed America , 17; Norman 2059; Printing and the Mind of Man 403. £4,250 [155741]
in black. Very light creasing, else in excellent condition. ¶ Gillian Shephard, The Real Iron Lady: Working with Margaret Thatcher , 2013. £875
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All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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