Donald Maitland was born in Edinburgh in 1922. He joined the Foreign Service in 1947 and a series of overseas postings followed. He subsequently served as Prime Minister Edward Heath’s Chief Press Secretary and as Deputy Under-Secretary of State, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He also served as UK Permanent Representative to the UN and as Ambassador and UK Permanent Representative to the European Economic Community. Sir Donald’s final appointment was to the Department of Energy.

After his retirement, Sir Donald continued to work in numerous salaried and voluntary roles. Prominent positions included Chairman of the Independent Commission for World-Wide Telecommunications Development and Chairman of the Health Education Authority. In 1995 Sir Donald received an honorary degree from the University of Bath. He served as the University’s Pro-Chancellor from 1997 to 2000. He was awarded an OBE in 1960, a CMG in 1966, a Knighthood in 1973, and a GCMG in 1977.

The collection contains material relating to all stages of Sir Donald’s long and distinguished career at the highest levels of public service. It also includes diaries, visitors books and associated records maintained by Lady Jean Maitland documenting the behind-the-scenes family life of a working diplomat.

The collection was donated to the University of Bath by the Maitland family in 1998, 2017 and 2023.

Size: 20 boxes, 513 items.

A catalogue providing full details of the contents of the Maitland Collection is available in PDF format.