IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0097 COLL MISC 0706
Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science
Title: Anarchist letters and pamphlets
Date(s): 1881-1912
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: One folder
Name of creator(s): Various anarchist individuals and groups
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Anarchist Communist Alliance: No further information available.
The Socialist League: In 1884 a group of members of the Social Democratic Federation (SDF) attempted to remove H H Hyndman (1842-1921) from the leadership of the party. This group shared Hyndman's Marxist beliefs, but objected to his nationalism and the dictatorial methods he used to run the party. At a meeting of the Social Democratic Federation executive on 27th December, 1884, there was a debate about Hyndman's leadership. There were complaints about his control over the party's journal "Justice". Others were unhappy about Hyndman's tendency to expel members he disagreed with. The SDF executive voted by a majority of two (10-8), that it had no confidence in Hyndman. When Hyndman refused to resign, some members left and formed a new organisation called the Socialist League. After six months the Socialist League only had eight branches and 230 members. Britain's economic problems in the 1880s helped to revive interest in the Socialist League. By January 1887 the membership of the party reached 550. The Socialist League continued to grow and by 1895 had over 10,700 members. Numbers declined after this and when the organisation disbanded in 1901 it was down to less than 6,000.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Letter from Joseph Lane (fl 1880-1905) to Ambrose Barker (1859-1953), 10 July 1912.
Notes by Dr. Max Nettlau (1865-1944) of excerpts from Joseph Lane's correspondence to Barker.
Printed manifestos by Lane, 1887 and the Anarchist Communist Alliance, 1895. Pamphlet entitled "Freiheit prosecution of Johann Most", 1881. Most (1846-1906) was editor of "Die Freiheit".
Socialist League circulars and pamphlets, 1885 to 1886; 1903.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
One folder
Conditions governing access:
OPEN
Conditions governing reproduction:
APPLY TO ARCHIVIST
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Printed handlist available
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 8, 2002
Date(s) of descriptions: 8 May 2002; revised 20 May 2002