GB 0097 HCA/CROSSMAN - CROSSMAN; Robert (1947-1996); politician and gay activist

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0097 HCA/CROSSMAN

Title

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

Date(s)

  • c1970-1996 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

4 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

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.

Archival history

Given by Martin McCloghry in 1998.
GB 0097 HCA/CROSSMAN c1970-1996 Subfonds of the Hall-Carpenter Archives 4 boxes Crossman , Robert , d 1997 , Labour politician and gay activist
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.

Given by Martin McCloghry in 1998.

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.

Duplicates removed.

None expected

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

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

Apply to Archivist for copyright details.
English

Online catalogue; printed handlist.

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

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. 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. September 2007 Civil and political rights Crossman , Robert , d 1997 , Labour politician and gay activist Educational opportunities Employment Employment opportunities England Equal opportunity Europe Government Human rights Islington Labour Party Lesbian, gay and bisexual rights Local government London Public administration Right to education Social and economic rights UK Western Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

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.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Duplicates removed.

Accruals

None expected

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 of access and use area

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.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Online catalogue; printed handlist.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

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

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

British Library of Political and Economic Science

Rules and/or conventions used

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.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area