Socialist History Seminar Autumn 2019
Monday October 28th 5.00pm
David Edgerton, 'Some Reflections on the Rise and Fall of the British Nation',
Room S 8.08, 8th Floor, Strand Building, Kings College, London.
Room S 8.08, 8th Floor, Strand Building, Kings College, London.
Hosted by the London Socialist Historians Group.
No need to book in advance.
No need to book in advance.
Map of building:
A recent Guardian article by David Edgerton
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CLS/Ella Baker School Conference:
Organising 2019 Innovations and reflections
Organising 2019 Innovations and reflections
Saturday, November 02, 2019 • 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
At: Unite the Union • 33 - 37 Moreland Street, London, EC1V 8BB
Host Contact Info: ellabakerschooloforganis
To register.
We now have an exciting programme and already a diverse group of organisers from many different backgrounds have signed up to attend.
There is a cost to attend the event, (ranging from £5 to £15 if you are paying yourself, and £40 if your employer is paying for you), but it does include tea and coffee throughout the day, as well as lunch and an early evening meal before the informal social (details to be announced). We simply could not do it any cheaper, and we are certain you will find it a inspiring day.
Places are limited, so please do sign up now, and while you are about it, share details of this amazing conference with your networks.
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Working Class Movement Library
Working Class Movement Library
51 The Crescent
Salford, M5 4WXInvisible histories talks
Our next free Wednesday 2pm talks are:
6 November - Kenny MacAskill 'Glasgow 1919'
20 November - Mike France 'The Reform Act scrapbook, an amazing new WCML acquisition'
4 December - Sam Edwards 'Troublesome Tom: the memory and legacy of Thomas Paine in Britain' (part of our Bones of Paine project)
Full details at www.wcml.org.uk/events.
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20 November - Mike France 'The Reform Act scrapbook, an amazing new WCML acquisition'
4 December - Sam Edwards 'Troublesome Tom: the memory and legacy of Thomas Paine in Britain' (part of our Bones of Paine project)
Full details at www.wcml.org.uk/events.
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Engels Lecture - Willi Münzenberg
On Saturday 2 November at 2pm the Library hosts the second Engels Lecture, with John Green speaking on the topic In the footsteps of Marx and Engels - Willi Münzenberg, a forgotten giant of the working class movement. Münzenberg became one of the key figures in the European socialist movement during the inter-war years. He was a leader of the European anti-war movement, vehement anti-fascist, and initiator of the first worldwide anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist organisation. This talk will relate his achievements to the Marx-Engels legacy, and discuss them in the context of the Comintern, the German Communist Party, the 1918 German revolution, and Stalin with whom he broke shortly before his death in 1940. John will argue that Münzenberg and his achievements should be better known and celebrated. John Green has been a journalist for most of his working life. He has written several biographies of political figures, including a well-received biography of Friedrich Engels. He was co-editor of the Marxist arts magazine Artery (1970 -81) and, after studying in the GDR, a documentary film maker for twenty years, covering social and political issues throughout the world.
This is WCML’s first hosting of this annual event, which was inaugurated last year at the Marx Memorial Library and will alternate between us. Admission free; all welcome.
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Bones of Paine
This autumn we mark the bicentenary of the bizarre moment when the bones of radical Thomas Paine were brought to Salford (dug up from their original resting place in New York by campaigning journalist William Cobbett), only to be refused entry to Manchester by the authorities, with the horrors of Peterloo still fresh. To commemorate this and to celebrate Paine’s revolutionary writings and ideas, the Library and Salford outdoor arts organisation Walk the Plank are working together to deliver a project which mixes the traditional with the contemporary, and the unusual with the familiar.
There are many aspects to the project including creative writing workshops, and a public reading of Paine's Common Sense, when American Studies students from the University of Manchester will read aloud perhaps the most effective political pamphlet that has ever been written.
The most unusual and eye-catching part of our project however involves our giant processional puppet. It's already made several appearances, and one of the few bonuses of the evenings drawing in is that we'll be able to see it in its full illuminated glory... Here are the dates to catch it:
There are many aspects to the project including creative writing workshops, and a public reading of Paine's Common Sense, when American Studies students from the University of Manchester will read aloud perhaps the most effective political pamphlet that has ever been written.
The most unusual and eye-catching part of our project however involves our giant processional puppet. It's already made several appearances, and one of the few bonuses of the evenings drawing in is that we'll be able to see it in its full illuminated glory... Here are the dates to catch it:
Fri 25 October, 4pm, 5pm, 6.15pm and 7.30pm Witches Walk, Buile Hill Park, Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 8GL. Tickets here.
Fri 1 November, 6.30pm-7.30pm Irlam Fireworks, Princes Park, Liverpool Road, Irlam M44 6BR. Free.
Sat 30 November, 4pm-6pm Parade – join the processional puppet plus musicians & dancers as together we create a new and artistic ending for this 200 year old story, to coincide with the anniversary of Cobbett bringing the bones to Salford in 1819. Starts from the Library at 4pm and moves down the Crescent and across the bridge to finish up at the People’s History Museum. The Library will be open from 2pm for people to see the Paine exhibition; PHM will stay open until 6pm so folk can view Paine's writing desk and other items.
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Louise Michel, a French anarchist in London
with Constance Bantman and Martyn Everett
Friday November 1st, 7pm start
Housmans Bookshop
5 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX
Free, no booking required
5 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX
Free, no booking required
In 1891 Louise Michel started an anarchist school in London. Using this event as a focal point, Constance and Martyn explore aspects of the life and ideas of Louise Michel that lead to a better understanding of both Louise and her anarchism.
Louise Michel was one of the most influential French political figures in the second half of the 19th century plus one of the most powerful women political theorists of her day.
If you have never heard of Louise Michel before, or are merely curious about anarchism, then this is also an ideal way to get into the topic. You have two excellent speakers who really know their subject area.
This is one talk you can’t afford to miss!
Dr Constance Bantman is Deputy Head of School, Director of Learning & Teaching, Senior Lecturer in French at the University of Surrey. Her research focuses on the history of French political exiles in Britain and anarchist transnationalism between 1880 and 1914, with a focus on ideological and political transfers, experiences of political exile, the asylum question in the long nineteenth century as well as the history of terrorism. These questions were the focus of her doctoral research and 2013 monograph, ‘The French Anarchists in London (1880-1914): Exile and Transnationalism in the First Globalisation (LUP, 2013)’, as well as a number of journal publications.
Martyn Everett was a founder member of the Anarchist Research Group, which is affiliated to the History Workshop, the collective of professional and community-based researchers which has made the most sustained and substantial contribution to the writing of history ‘from below’. For 2 years he was editor of the Anarchist Research Group newsletter. He has published many articles and reviews in the academic and in the popular press.
Martyn Everett’s life and work is informed by his anarchist philosophy. He is committed to promoting change ‘from below’ by giving people free access to information which affects their communities: he is an active campaigner for community radio. For over 20 years he has worked to protect the natural environment and to preserve historic buildings and ancient monuments.
To be continued...
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