These articles mark the passing of labour historians, many of whom have played a significant part in the Society for the Study of Labour History.
Ian MacDougall had a remarkable impact on labour history with his pioneering interim bibliography of the Scottish working class movement and other labour records held in Scotland of 1965 and his subsequent Catalogue of Labour records in Scotland of 1975. His 1965 work had an impact on discussions within the Executive Committee of the Society for the Study of Labour History. There was no equivalent … Continue reading Ian MacDougal (1993-2020)
Peter Jackson, who died on 19 February in Panama, born on 14 October 1928 in Sheffield, was a member of the Society for the Study of Labour History from 1961 until at least 1968. At the time of joining, Peter was studying at the University of Liverpool in the Department of Social Science, which is where he registered for a PhD, eventually completed as’ Some … Continue reading Peter Michael Jackson (1928-2020)
Malcolm Chase, who has died aged 63, will be best remembered as the leading historian of Chartism. More than this, he was the foremost historian of all kinds of popular radicalism and labour movement activity in late-eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Britain, rescuing the reputation of agrarian radicalism and charting the development of early trade unionism as far back as the seventeenth century, a period into … Continue reading Malcolm Chase (1957-2020)
Labour and social historians around the world will be saddened to hear of the death of the renowned J.F.C. Harrison, who has passed away at the age of 96. During his long and distinguished career, John held posts at the University of Leeds, University of Wisconsin and was Professor of Social History at the University of Sussex, where he was based until his retirement. He … Continue reading J.F.C. Harrison (1921-2018)
The former trade union leader and champion of the national living wage, Rodney Bickerstaffe, has died aged 72. In news that has shocked the labour movement and left, tributes have been led by current union leaders and prominent Labour politicians, including UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. It has also come to light that, in addition to his work as a campaigner and union … Continue reading Rodney Bickerstaffe (1945-2017): labour historian
The SSLH is saddened to learn of the passing of the Australian archivist and activist Dr Sigrid McCausland. Sigrid served as University Archivist at both the University of Technology, Sydney and the Australian National University, where she successfully spearheaded the fight to save the Noel Butlin Archives Centre.(The Noel Butlin Archive centre is a repository for labour movement records in Australia and the Pacific). Continue reading Dr Sigrid McCausland
The Society is sorry to hear of the death of the eminent historian Asa Briggs who was a founder member of the SSLH. He was a pioneer of labour history and a man of many talents. You can read more about his influence on modern social and cultural history in obituaries published in the Guardian and the Yorkshire Post. John McIlroy, a former secretary of the SSLH, has written a … Continue reading Asa Briggs (1921-2016): historian and founder member of the SSLH
We regret to announce the death of Irene Wagner on February 4th at the age of 99. Irene, as Labour Party archivist, was an original member of the Society’s Archive Committee, formed in 1965. She played an important role in Society affairs and was the driving force in moves to create the International Association of Labour History Institutions [IALHI]. Read The Guardian’s obituary written by … Continue reading Irene Wagner
The Society was sorry to hear of the death of Eddie Cass. Eddie played an important part in guiding The People’s History museum after its arrival in Manchester and had wide ranging scholarly interests. An obituary written by Alan Fowler for the Guardian can be read here. Continue reading Eddie Cass (1937-2014)
The eminent historian Eric Hobsbawm died 1 October 2012 at the age of 95. He wrote more than 30 books. His reputation rests largely on four works, including History of the 20th Century, The Age of Extremes, which has been translated into 40 languages. Born to Jewish parents in Egypt in 1917, the year of the Russian Revolution, Prof Hobsbawm’s life and works were shaped … Continue reading Eric Hobsbawm (1917-2012)
Society for the Study of Labour History 