J.H. Whitley came from an established business family in Halifax, became an MP for Halifax in 1900, was a Liberal Radical who worked with Labour, gave his name to the industrial councils of the First World War, was Speaker of the House of Commons, was chairman of the BBC between 1930 and 1935, was involved with the issue of India during the inter-war years, and presided over the House of Commons debates at the time of the General Strike of 1926. Whitley was thus a vitally important political figure who was active at a series of watershed moments in modern British and political history.

1. Introduction, John Hargreaves, Keith Laybourn, and Richard Toye 2. J.H. Whitley (1866-1935): A Speaker shaped by his Halifax roots, John Hargreaves 3. Clifton: Inspiration and Service, C. S. Knighton 4. J.H. Whitley: A Model for Free Churchmen, Clyde Binfield 5. J.H. Whitley and Halifax Politics between 1890 and 1906: The Politics of Social Reform, Keith Laybourn 6. Industrial Relations and joint industrial councils: the UK and beyond 1916-1939, Greg Patmore 7. J.H. Whitley as Speaker of the House of Commons, 1921-1928, Richard Toye 8. J.H. Whitley and St. Stephen's Hall in the Palace of Westminster, Graham E. Seel 9. J.H. Whitley and the Royal Commission on Labour in India 1929-1931, Amerdeep Panesar, Amy Stoddard, James Turner, Paul Ward and Sarah Wells 10. J.H. Whitley and the BBC 1930-1935, David Hendy 11. 'Equal partners in a great enterprise': experiencing Radio in Yorkshire in the time of J.H. Whitley, Christine Verguson 12. Self-government: J.H. Whitley's worlds in context, Keith Robbins 13. J.H. Whitley 'first draft of history': a study of the obituaries and personal tributes, John Barrett