Dr Gordon Wilson, Scottish Nationalist politician and lawyer, was born in 1938. He was co-founder of Radio Free Scotland and Secretary of the Scottish National Party during the 1960s. Dr Wilson was a Member of Parliament for the Dundee East constituency (1974-1987). He was senior Vice-Chairman of the SNP (1973-1974) and parliamentary energy spokesman. He was Vice-Chairman for Oil (1972-1973), Director of the ‘It’s Scotland’s Oil’ Campaign (1972-1976), Senior Vice-Chairman of the SNP (1973-1974), Deputy SNP Parliamentary Leader (1974-1979) and Chairman and National Convener from 1979 to 1990, when he was succeeded by Alex Salmond. Dr Wilson was Rector of the University of Dundee from 1984 to 1986.

The fonds consists of political correspondence and papers documenting Dr Gordon Wilson’s long political career and activities in the Scottish National Party from 1964 to 2000. The first two series include his political correspondence from 1964 to 1990. There is also a small series of papers and correspondence concerning the ‘Scottish Oil’ campaign (1972-1978). The Scottish National Party Groups series includes papers and correspondence relating to ‘Siol Nan Gaidheal’ and the ’79 Group’, and the disbandment of these groups in 1982-1983. The Scottish National Party organisation files (1979-1990) complement other organisational records included in Acc.11987. The fonds also contains correspondence, papers and memoranda on electoral matters (1978-1990), publicity campaigns (1983-1988), broadcasting issues (1983-1990), and the SNP’s role in the Scottish Constitutional convention (1988-1989). Furthermore, there is a very complete series of papers relating to the SNP Parliamentary Group (1967-1990). This series includes agendas, minutes, correspondence, voting records and a nearly complete run of the Parliamentary group’s newsletter from 1975 to 1989. The last series consists of SNP publications and miscellaneous briefing documents (1986-1995).