UK archives take in new labour history accessions every year. The SSLH-Archives and Resources Committee tracks these and publishes an annual guide for researchers. The latest guide, for 2024, has now been published and can be freely downloaded here.

This year’s largest accession is of the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers’ records from 1910 to the 2000s, which now occupies 36 liner meters of shelf space at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick.

Other significant additions to the archives include:

• The printworkers collection at the Marx Memorial Library which includes photographs, trade union administrative papers, banners, journals and other papers dating back to 1847;
• Administrative papers, ephemera, banners, photographs, publications and periodicals relating to the News International dispute of 1986-87 and its commemoration, also in the Marx Memorial Library;
• Letters from Keir Hardie to Christabel Pankhurst in the National Library of Scotland;
• National Clarion Cycling Club papers and memorabilia including a 1924 Easter meet ribbon at the Working Class Movement Library;
• Seven large boxes of material relating to anti-apartheid activity from 1960 to 1971 which now form part of the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement Papers collection in the Welsh Political Archive at the National Library of Wales.

Download the 2024 New Archival Acquisitions Guide (PDF).

See guides from previous years.

Find out more about the SSLH-ARC and its member organisations.

Click to access sslh-new-accessions-report-2024-final.pdf