IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0372 ASS
Held at: Bishopsgate Institute
Title: Advisory Service for Squatters
Date(s): 1970-2012
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 18 boxes, 1 large Mylar sleeve, 1 bundle of folders
Name of creator(s): Advisory Service for Squatters
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Advisory Service for Squatters is a non-profit collective of volunteer workers who provide practical advice and legal support for squatters and homeless people. Established in 1975, the organisation grew out of an earlier group called the Family Squatters Advisory Service (founded in the late 1960s). Since 1976 ASS has published The Squatters Handbook, the 13th edition of which was published in 2009. Over 150,000 copies have been sold since 1976. The Handbook offers advice on how to find property to squat in, what to do in confrontations with the police, how to maintain the property and set up temporary plumbing, and generally how to survive while squatting. According to the Advisory Service website, the Squatters' Handbook is in high demand, which speaks to the rising number of squatters in this current [2014 at the time of writing] period of global recession. ASS also has links with squatters' rights organisations worldwide. After having a base at 2 St Paul's Road in Islington for many years, ASS moved to premises at Angel Alley (84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX), in the same building as Freedom Press.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Includes papers, publications, photographs, posters, leaflets, booklets, correspondence and press cuttings regarding squatting and housing protests in the UK and internationally. 34 files/folders. Predominantly late 1970s/early 1980s, [1970-2012].
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English.
System of arrangement:
no further arrangement required
Conditions governing access:
Photocopying and digital photography (without flash) is permitted for research purposes on completion of the Library's Copyright Declaration form and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Conditions governing reproduction:
OPEN
Physical characteristics:
18 boxes, 1 large Mylar sleeve, 1 bundle of folders
Finding aids:
Copy of handlist available in Library Reading Room.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
no further information
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited with Bishopsgate Institute by Myk Zeitlin 20 March 2014.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: 24 March 2014