Category: Bursary reports

The SSLH runs two bursary schemes. Articles in this section are reports back from the recipients of bursaries setting out how they were able to advance their research.

Bursary reports, Research bursaries

Scott Rawlinson (University of East Anglia) on the labour movement and Labour Party in Peterborough, 1898-1939

My PhD research looks at the development of the labour movement and Labour Party in Peterborough from 1898 to 1939, with a particular focus on the period from 1918 to 1939. The aim is to understand the nature of Labour organisation and identity in a mixed constituency beyond the heartlands (that is, an area which does not occupy a special place in standard histories of the party’s development, and … Continue reading Scott Rawlinson (University of East Anglia) on the labour movement and Labour Party in Peterborough, 1898-1939

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

Thomas Ottley (Edge Hill) visits the Searchlight archive to research the ideology of the National Front

The bursary from the Society for the Study of Labour History allowed me to complete research for my dissertation project that I am undertaking at Edge Hill University. My dissertation assesses how the National Front sought to sell their ideology to difference audiences, with a particular focus on working-class votes. Specifically, it examines how the party used Spearhead (the National Front’s mouthpiece journal) to build … Continue reading Thomas Ottley (Edge Hill) visits the Searchlight archive to research the ideology of the National Front

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Bursary reports, Research bursaries

Shaun Pitt (Northumbria) on the Anarchist Movement in Britain

My thesis focuses on intersections between Britain’s anarchist movement and its fledgling ‘New Liberal’ movement at the turn of the twentieth century. ‘New Liberalism’ is a term used to describe the new wave of British liberalism that was more radical, communal and interested in state intervention. At the same time Britain’s anarchist movement was enjoying one of its greatest periods of mainstream popularity and distribution. … Continue reading Shaun Pitt (Northumbria) on the Anarchist Movement in Britain

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Bursary reports, Research bursaries

Michael Reeve (Hull) visits The National Archives to research First World War tobacco provision

On 20 and 21 June 2019 I conducted research at The National Archives in Kew, London. My aim was to collate primary sources to form the basis of a book chapter related to themes from my recently completed PhD. Namely, this work will focus on the charitable giving of tobacco to soldiers during the First World War, including the development of local tobacco funds and … Continue reading Michael Reeve (Hull) visits The National Archives to research First World War tobacco provision

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

Matthew Case-Legge (Chichester) on the Labour Party and the debate over public ownership

I visited the Labour History Archive and Study Centre, attached to the People’s History Museum in Manchester. For my dissertation, I wanted to examine the development of the Labour Party’s conception of the public ownership of industry during the inter-war period. Before arriving I was not sure quite which industry to focus on, waiting for that to be informed by the amount of material available. … Continue reading Matthew Case-Legge (Chichester) on the Labour Party and the debate over public ownership

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

Beth Fisher (York) on the Labour Party’s foreign policy towards Nazi Germany, 1936-1939

With the help of the generous bursary given by the Society for the Study of Labour History, I was able to make three research trips to the Labour History Archive at the People’s History Museum, in Manchester. My MA dissertation is on the Labour Party’s foreign policy towards Nazi Germany, 1936-1939. While the road to the Second World War, and the Third Reich, are saturated … Continue reading Beth Fisher (York) on the Labour Party’s foreign policy towards Nazi Germany, 1936-1939

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

Sam Pallis (Queen Mary/UCL) on 1968 as a turning point for British Trotskyism

My dissertation explores how 1968 transformed the nature of Trotskyism within the Labour Party (LP). Before 1968, Trotskyist groups within the Party had primarily pursued a workerist notion of Marxism, relegating race and women’s liberation as subsidiary to the class struggle. Alongside this they viewed Lenin’s notion of the vanguard party, run by a tight group of cadres, as the only means by which to … Continue reading Sam Pallis (Queen Mary/UCL) on 1968 as a turning point for British Trotskyism

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

Brogan Fannen (Sunderland) researches Socialist Sunday Schools at the People’s History Museum

My MA dissertation explores the role of the Socialist Sunday Schools (SSS) within the history of the British socialist movement, with a primary focus on the schools’ role in facilitating and cultivating a socialist culture among British working-class communities in the twentieth century. It is the aim of my dissertation to contribute to the overall history of the movement and address existing gaps within the … Continue reading Brogan Fannen (Sunderland) researches Socialist Sunday Schools at the People’s History Museum

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

Dan Horne (Northumbria) on the British Left’s response to fascism at home and in Europe

My dissertation examines the way in which the British Left contributed to the anti-fascist cause in 1930s Europe. I will observe how the British Left reacted to the rise of fascism within Germany, Austria and Italy, whilst also exploring their reaction towards Oswald Mosley and the BUF at home. This dissertation will attempt to draw attention to how key campaigners sought to gain wider support … Continue reading Dan Horne (Northumbria) on the British Left’s response to fascism at home and in Europe

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Bursary reports, MA & BA bursaries

James Squires (Sheffield Hallam) on the relationship between the CPGB and Labour Party

Thanks to the generosity of the Society for the Study of Labour History, I was able to spend a two-day research trip in London, and attended both the National Archives and the Marx Memorial Library. My research focuses on the relationship between the Labour Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) throughout the 1920s. This trip complemented my existing research, and has given … Continue reading James Squires (Sheffield Hallam) on the relationship between the CPGB and Labour Party

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