Politics and protest: from major party politics to popular protest and parliamentary history

Politics and protest: from major party politics to popular protest and parliamentary history is a thematic series contained as a sub-set within the digitized archival content known as British Online Archives (BOA), distributed by Microform Academic Publishers (MAP).  This series includes the following collections:

British Labour Party papers, 1906-1969:

This collection provides access to 57 documents and over 6,000 pages of papers from the Parliamentary Labour Party covering their early years.  MAP reports, "These papers cover that foundation; then follow the Party through Ramsay MacDonald's Governments, two world wars, the first Harold Wilson Government and the early part of his second Government. The events in these records are a reflection of current events as much as of the Party itself. From the suffrage campaign for the electoral enfranchisement of women, to nuclear tests over the Pacific Ocean, through the Beveridge Report, the Trade Union Bill and the development of the United Nations. Early policies like the minimum wage would not pass for decades and Party discipline would be a challenge for every Party Leader. Those challenges existed alongside the removal of the right for employers to sue trade unions and the creation of social services. These papers have been arranged by year and divided into thematic groups."

British Labour Party papers, 1968-1994

This collection provides access to 55 documents and over 10,000 pages of papers from the Parliamentary Labour Party during the period of 1968-1994.

British Parliamentary History, 1102-1803

This collection provides access to 12 volumes of parliamentary papers covering "the history of Parliament and British politics" during the period of 1102-1803.  This collection includes the diaries of Anchitell Grey, records of John Almon and William 'Memory' Woodfall, among other Parliamentary records.  According to MAP, "These volumes are exclusively derived from the Wakefield One Library. Accompanied by an online guide and scholarly introduction to the collection by Dr Andrew Struan, University of Glasgow."

British women trade unionists on strike at Bryant & May, 1888

MAP states that this collection provides "full access to all 4,926 pages that make up the British women trade unionist on strike at Bryant & May, 1888 collection."  The collection consists of 39 documents contained in 6 volumes.

Conscientious Objection during the First World War

This collection provides access to 6,888 pages of papers written by Britain's peace campaigners during World War I.  According to MAP: "Three of these anti-war protest groups included the Conscientious Objector Information Bureau, the Union of Democratic Control, and the No-Conscription Fellowship. The collection includes complete files of key anti-war publications. It also contains rare reports from the Conscientious Objector Information Bureau. The internal papers include minutes from the Union of Democratic Control and letters from the No-Conscription Fellowship. The Fellowship’s most prominent figure, Clifford Allen, wrote a number of these items. Local Fellowship branches in Willesden, Middlesex and in Hyde, Greater Manchester are also covered. The Conscientious Objector, Thomas Henry Ellison, spent much of his time between 1916 and April 1919 in prison. His scrapbook covers both his own experiences and of the experience of the anti-war movement as a whole."
 

Independent Labour Party records, 1893-1960

This collection provides access to 7,118 pages of 20 documents found in 4 volumes of Independent Labour Party records.  The 4 volumes includes annual reports, minute books, committee reports and conference resolutions, and weekly notes for speakers.

Scottish nationalist leaflets, 1844-1973

This collection provides access to 10,339 pages of pamphlets related to the Scottish National Party.  MAP reports, that authors include Archie Lamont, Hugh Macdiarmid, and William Mitchell

Scottish women's suffrage movement, 1902-1933

This collection consists of 5,360 pages from the Scottish women's suffrage movement during the period of 1902-1933. It includes the following 3 volumes:

• Executive Committee Minute Books, 1902-1933
• Association for Women's Suffrage Letter Books, 1913-1918
• Miscellaneous Reports with Some Publications, 1914-1933

The atheist politician and his anti-war daughter: the Bradlaughs, 1833-1948

This collection provides access to the papers of Charles Bradlaugh.  It consists of 15,378 pages from the Bradlaughs, 1833-1948 collection.  MAP states: "Bradlaugh was a co-founder of the National Secular Society and Editor of the National Reformer. He is also responsible for the creation of a secular oath for politicians in the 19th century. His fight for the secular oath was made possible by the sustained support of voters in Northampton. Bradlaugh was a keen supporter of Indian Home Rule, and access to birth control, who also helped the Fenians to draft their Manifesto. These papers' main focus is on his fight for a secular parliamentary oath. The battle of the oath continued over five years and four by-elections, before he was sworn-in and took his seat in 1886. These records also include papers from Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner, the only one of Bradlaugh's children to outlive her father. Loyal to her father, she collected records of his work and fought to protect his legacy. Bonner also actively campaigned against the Boer War and the arms race prior to the First World War. "

The British Union of Fascists: newspapers and secret files, 1933-1951

This collection provides access to 13,847 pages of newspapers and files from the British Union of Fascistis.  According to MAP, "These papers cover the growth of the British Union of Fascists and the impact of World War 2 upon them. The documents include both their official publications and the imprisonment of their leader Oswald Mosley. The pre-war fascist newspapers include Fascist week, The Blackshirt and The East London Pioneer. Action was published from February 1936 until June 1940, by which point a growing number of the BUF were interned. Sir Oswald and Lady Diane Mosley’s imprisonment caused much debate. These papers include government records of why they were arrested and Oswald Mosley’s time in prison. Other items include official intelligence reports upon both Mosleys."

Trade unionist, electoral reformist and politician: George Howell, 1833-1910

This collection provides access to 28,734 pages found in 12 volumes.  The volumes includes works, diaries, and letter books from George Howell.  In addition, the collection provides access to records and documents relating to the Reform League, Trades Union Congress Committee papers, and more.