CROSSMAN; Robert (1947-1996); politician and gay activist

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0097 HCA/CROSSMAN
Held at	: British Library of Political and Economic Science   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.lse.ac.uk/library ›
Full title	: CROSSMAN; Robert (1947-1996); politician and gay activist
Date(s)	: c1970-1996
Level of description	: Subfonds of the Hall-Carpenter Archives View parent record
Extent	: 4 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Crossman | Robert | d 1997 | Labour politician and gay activist
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born 7 March 1947; lifelong Labour activist; openly gay member of the Labour party at a young age; moved to Manchester in 1970s to attend the Polytechnic; during this time became local Councillor in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Later moved to Islington, where he was elected Councillor in 1982; represented Highview, Gillespie and Highbury wards. As Councillor fought for development of better housing and local education services; represented Islington on Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) from 1983, serving as Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee; Mayor of Islington 1986-1987. Leader in gay community; founder and Chairman of the Islington Lesbian and Gay Committee; fought against injustice and discrimination toward gay men and lesbians; during 1980s worked as equal opportunities advisor for Education Department of Haringey Council. Member of London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, Gay Man Fighting Aids, National Aids Helpline, Food Chain, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (from 1960), Labour Movement Campaign for Palestine and National Anti-Racist Movement in Education (NAME); founder member of Gay Labour Group (later renamed the Labour Campaign for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Provided training for men on business and motivation; died 21 October 1996.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Robert Crossman, mainly comprising material relating to local government, gays and lesbian rights, particularly regarding equal opportunities and and the teaching of homosexuality in schools, his term as Mayor of Islington and papers regarding gay organisations and events.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

The papers have been divided into 5 series by the areas of Crossman's work. These are: Series 1 - London Borough of Islington. Subdivided into papers regarding his work as Labour Councillor and his work as Mayor of Islington Series 2 - Education and Equal Opportunities. Mostly relating to the Stop 28 Clause Campaign Series 3 - Gay and Lesbian Papers regarding organisations in the London and wider area Series 4 - Training - papers relating to training opportunities provided by Crossman Series 5 - personal papers

Conditions governing access:

All files are opened. Users need to sign data protection declaration form before being issued with some files. Full details are file level description.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Apply to Archivist for copyright details.

Finding aids:

Online catalogue; printed handlist.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Given by Martin McCloghry in 1998.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Allied Materials

Related material:

Papers regarding Islington Metropolitan Borough Council are located at Islington Local History Centre and London Metropolitan Archives. See NRA for further details.

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Catalogued as part of the 1967 and All That project by Becky Webster September 2007.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
September 2007