Appeal for information
Dear Friends
I'm researching Clara Zetkin's reception and influence in British politics (1886-1933), and would be pleased to learn of any references to her (positive or negative) in any biographies, memoirs, diaries, correspondence, etc., of British figures.
She was involved with the Second and Third Internationals, and founded the International Socialist Women's Movement; she communicated with the SDF, the BSP, the Women's Labour League and the ILP, and was in contact with Eleanor Marx-Aveling, Dora Montefiore, Margaret MacDonald, Fenner Brockway, J. T. Murphy, Margaret Bondfield, Marion Phillips and Mary Longman. I'd be interested in references to Zetkin's contact with these people and groups - but also any additional contacts with Britons (or emigres living in Britain, such as Friedrich Engels, Karl Kautsky, Eduard Bernstein, etc.).
Anything - no matter how minor - would be a great help. Email me on H_G_W_@hotmail.com with your leads. Ta.
Dr John S. Partington
Reading.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Monday, 14 December 2009
Donald Sassoon remembers Nina Fishman
Nina Fishman (1946-2009), 'Historian, political activist and outstanding character of the British left'. Condolences from the LSHG to Nina Fishman's family and friends. For a review of one of her works, The British Communist Party and the Trade Unions, 1933-45, see here
Monday, 7 December 2009
The William Morris Hall
A centenary celebration for a building
The William Morris Hall
Somers Road E17
Tuppence a brick (old money)
On 13 December 1909 artist and socialist Walter Crane opened the William Morris Hall: bringing to joyous conclusion six years of fundraising, preparation and hard voluntary labour.
In 1903 the brothers Ben and Charles Buck started the idea of a home for the socialist, radical and trade union people of Walthamstow. Funded by workers buying a brick for 2d (old money), sponsored bike rides and social events, the collective organisations of the Social Democratic Federation, Walthamstow Socialist League, the William Morris Club, the Clarion Cyclists, the trades council, anarchists, suffragettes and many more, the hall was built by volunteer craftsmen on Sunday mornings on squatted land.
The William Morris Hall for the 30 years was the centre of political and cultural life in the town. Amongst the many speakers who came over the years were: dock worker’s leader, Ben Tillet, the Countess of Warwick, H M Hyndman, Will Thorne, new Labour MP for West Ham South (1906), Sylvia Pankhurst, George Bernard Shaw, Victor Grayson, lion tamer, adventurer, folk hero, firebrand independent socialist MP and Walthamstow’s own Val McEntee. From day one it housed the Socialist Sunday School, where over a hundred children each week come together in secular fellowship to learn the socialist 10 commandments.
In the early 1920s the William Morris Brass Band and the William Morris Orchestra were formed. One for street marching and open air meetings, the other for concerts and dancing. The Hall had its own choir. In 1923 Charles Buck started a theatre group; performing plays by Ibsen and Shaw.
The building is a now home to the Limes Community and Children’s Centre. The inside has changed but most of the bricks are the same. I want to celebrate it’s 100 years with words and music. The pioneers who campaigned for a fairer, different world did it with verse and song, as well as marches and struggle. Let’s celebrate the building, the Buck brothers and countless others, but most of all let’s celebrate our past into the future.
Please bring banners
Sunday 13 December
William Morris Hall, Somers Road Walthamstow E17
Assemble at 2 pm
Music and words, then walk to Ye Olde Rose and Crown for more celebration
Please contact Roger Huddle if you want to be involved: roger.huddle@ntlworld.com
The William Morris Hall
Somers Road E17
Tuppence a brick (old money)
On 13 December 1909 artist and socialist Walter Crane opened the William Morris Hall: bringing to joyous conclusion six years of fundraising, preparation and hard voluntary labour.
In 1903 the brothers Ben and Charles Buck started the idea of a home for the socialist, radical and trade union people of Walthamstow. Funded by workers buying a brick for 2d (old money), sponsored bike rides and social events, the collective organisations of the Social Democratic Federation, Walthamstow Socialist League, the William Morris Club, the Clarion Cyclists, the trades council, anarchists, suffragettes and many more, the hall was built by volunteer craftsmen on Sunday mornings on squatted land.
The William Morris Hall for the 30 years was the centre of political and cultural life in the town. Amongst the many speakers who came over the years were: dock worker’s leader, Ben Tillet, the Countess of Warwick, H M Hyndman, Will Thorne, new Labour MP for West Ham South (1906), Sylvia Pankhurst, George Bernard Shaw, Victor Grayson, lion tamer, adventurer, folk hero, firebrand independent socialist MP and Walthamstow’s own Val McEntee. From day one it housed the Socialist Sunday School, where over a hundred children each week come together in secular fellowship to learn the socialist 10 commandments.
In the early 1920s the William Morris Brass Band and the William Morris Orchestra were formed. One for street marching and open air meetings, the other for concerts and dancing. The Hall had its own choir. In 1923 Charles Buck started a theatre group; performing plays by Ibsen and Shaw.
The building is a now home to the Limes Community and Children’s Centre. The inside has changed but most of the bricks are the same. I want to celebrate it’s 100 years with words and music. The pioneers who campaigned for a fairer, different world did it with verse and song, as well as marches and struggle. Let’s celebrate the building, the Buck brothers and countless others, but most of all let’s celebrate our past into the future.
Please bring banners
Sunday 13 December
William Morris Hall, Somers Road Walthamstow E17
Assemble at 2 pm
Music and words, then walk to Ye Olde Rose and Crown for more celebration
Please contact Roger Huddle if you want to be involved: roger.huddle@ntlworld.com
LSHG Seminars Spring Term 2010
LSHG Seminars Spring Term 2010
Monday February 15th
Ian Goodyer: 'Crisis Music The Cultural Politics of Rock Against Racism in the 1970s'
Saturday February 27th
LSHG Conference: 'The Vote- What Went Wrong?'
Speakers include Owen Ashton, Logie Barrow, Ian Bullock, Neil Davidson, Keith Flett, Mike Haynes
Monday March 15th
John Charlton 'Don’t You Hear the H Bombs Thunder; Youth & Politics on Tyneside in the late 1950s and early 1960s'
All seminars are at 5.30pm Pollard Room, Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, Malet St London, WC1. Free and open to all without ticket. For more details email Keith Flett at keith1917@btinternet.com
Monday February 15th
Ian Goodyer: 'Crisis Music The Cultural Politics of Rock Against Racism in the 1970s'
Saturday February 27th
LSHG Conference: 'The Vote- What Went Wrong?'
Speakers include Owen Ashton, Logie Barrow, Ian Bullock, Neil Davidson, Keith Flett, Mike Haynes
Monday March 15th
John Charlton 'Don’t You Hear the H Bombs Thunder; Youth & Politics on Tyneside in the late 1950s and early 1960s'
All seminars are at 5.30pm Pollard Room, Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, Malet St London, WC1. Free and open to all without ticket. For more details email Keith Flett at keith1917@btinternet.com
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