Chile Solidarity Campaign: fiftieth anniversary archive open day

The People’s History Museum is marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Chilean military coup of 1973, by offering an opportunity to join the Manchester museum’s archive team to delve into material from the Chile Solidarity Campaign (CSC) collection. The event runs from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 9 September. Find out more and book a ticket. The coup led to international outcry. In its aftermath, … Continue reading Chile Solidarity Campaign: fiftieth anniversary archive open day

Gregory Billam (Edge Hill University) on the CPGB, the Historians’ Group and the CPA between 1946-1956

My thesis focuses on the Communist Party of Great Britain’s British Road to Socialism (1951) within a wider international context of ‘national roads to socialism’, in which communist parties were told to adapt to ‘national’ circumstances. My research examines the British party’s ‘road to socialism’ at the British Empire’s centre, and that of the Communist Party of Australia (CPA) at its periphery in the early … Continue reading Gregory Billam (Edge Hill University) on the CPGB, the Historians’ Group and the CPA between 1946-1956

Labour Party League of Youth members’ badge

The Labour Party began to recruit individual members in 1918, and youth sections appeared in a handful of divisional party organisations soon afterwards. But it was not until 1924 that the National Executive Committee formalised their existence and established a Labour Party League of Youth to act as a national co-ordinating body – albeit one with strictly limited representation and voice within the party’s structures. … Continue reading Labour Party League of Youth members’ badge

Nineteenth century misfits: Nick Mansfield inaugural professorial lecture

Labour historian and former People’s History Museum director Nick Mansfield is to deliver his inaugural professorial lecture at the University of Central Lancashire on “Nineteenth century misfits: celebration, insurrection and ‘back to the land’. A lecture for Mental Health Awareness Week, 2021.” Professor Mansfield has researched 19th and 20th century working class history since the 1970s, and has written extensively on artisans, farmworkers, patriotic labour … Continue reading Nineteenth century misfits: Nick Mansfield inaugural professorial lecture

SSLH sponsors William Cuffay at the People’s History Museum

The Society for the Study of Labour History is pleased to announce that it is to sponsor the Chartist William Cuffay as part of the People’s History Museum radical sponsor scheme. The decision further cements a long-standing relationship between the SSLH and the Manchester museum. Over recent years, the Society has sponsored Henry Hunt, the great radical orator best remembered as the main speaker at … Continue reading SSLH sponsors William Cuffay at the People’s History Museum

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

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

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

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