The catalogued Pamphlet Collection comprises over 12,000 titles dating from approximately 1830 to the present. The Pamphlet Collection consists of printed material less than 60 pages in length and includes government policies, reports, annual reports and campaigning material, primary law, including Bills and Acts. The subject material of the collection reflects and enriches the wide range of topics held elsewhere in the Women's Library.The topics covered include: English fiction, children's stories, poetry, women's organisations, feminism, role of women in society - UK and abroad, nursing, sex discrimination law, divorce law, employment, occupations, careers, equal opportunities, labour law, pension law, social security, taxation, housing, health, pregnancy, abortion, birth control, domestic violence, mothers, one-parent families, children, family life, housekeeping, religion, ordination, arts, costume, suffrage. Organisations include Equal Opportunities Commission, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital, National Union of Suffragettes, National Society for Women's Suffrage, US Women's Bureau, American National Red Cross, Union of Jewish Women, National Union of Townswomen's Guilds, National Federation of Women's Institutes, Fawcett Society, National Council for the Unmarried Mother and Her Child, British Federation of University Women, Association of University Women Teachers, Divorce Law Reform Union. Most of the material is in English, but there are also pamphlets in other languages, such as Italian, German and French.The pamphlets are arranged in two sections - one for standard sized pamphlets and one for oversized pamphlets.

The 'UDC Pamphlet Collection' [Universal Dewey Decimal Classification]: In addition to the main Pamphlet Collection is the 'UDC Pamphlet Collection.' The UDC collection was the first pamphlet collection created by the Library and consists of approximately 10,000 pamphlets dating from mid nineteenth to mid twentieth centuries, covering all subjects. As the collection was gradually acquired during the Library's first 20 years of life, it was arranged by subject, using the Universal Decimal Classification system. The pamphlets were primarily deposited by organisations and individuals, although some purchases were made. There is a finding aid kept with the collection but the collection was never catalogued and therefore remained a hidden resource within the Library for more than 80 years. Unsurprisingly other libraries did not collect most of these pamphlets. In 2007 as part of a cataloguing funding bid preliminary sampling of the collection against Copac (the merged online catalogues of 24 university research libraries in the UK, plus the British Library and the National Library of Scotland) found that over 60% of the UDC pamphlets were not listed in these major research collections. This is a very significant level of unique printed material.Cataloguing of the UDC collection started in 2007 and as the pamphlets are catatogued, they are transferred to the main pamphlet collection described above. As at 2009 the collection was partially catalogued and The Library was seeking additional funds to complete the project.

Papers of the Society of Women Musicians (SWM), 1911-1972, including annual reports, 1914-1972; minutes, 1967-1973; book of members elected and resigning, 1920-1960; fixture cards, 1915-1971; memorandum and articles of association, 1930; programmes and handbills of concerts, recitals and lectures organised by the SWM, 1912-1972; notices to members, 1911-1972; programmes of Ivimey Concerts, 1966-1971; papers relating to the foundation of the society in 1911, its constitution and initial membership, comprising correspondence, minutes, notes; correspondence on engagement of women with professional orchestras, 1920, 1928-1929; correspondence with speakers for lectures, 1933-1971; correspondence relating to BBC women's conference, 1936; correspondence with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music regarding the appointment of women examiners,1937-1956; various correspondence relating to the SWM presidency, membership, SWM library accessions, celebrations of SWM golden jubilee, 1961 and diamond jubilee 1971; news cuttings on the deaths of K Dorothy Fox, 1934, Marion Margaret Scott, 1953, and Katharine Emily Eggar, 1961, with related correspondence; printed material including The Music Student: special number devoted to the subject of women's work in music, May 1918; pamphlet of meeting in commemoration of Marion Margaret Scott, Jun 1954; press cuttings books relating to women musicians and the SWM, 1892-1964; correspondence relating to the dissolution of the SWM and donation of its records to the Royal College of Music, 1973-1974.

Transcripts of interviews by Roger Southall with South African trade union and political leaders, 1984, comprising: T Adler, National Automobile and Allied Workers Union; Neville Alexander, National Forum Committee; Saleem Badat, Grassroots; Jane Barrett, Transport and General Workers Union; Graeme Bloch, United Democratic Front; Andrew Boraine, United Democratic Front; Phiroshaw Camay, Council of Unions of South Africa; Moss Chikwane, United Democratic Front; Sathasican Cooper; Charles Daris, US Consulate, Johannesburg; Des T East, Motor Industry Combined Workers Union; Alec Irwin, Federation of South African Trade Unions; Brian Fredericks, National Automobile and Allied Workers Union;Dirk Hartford; Paddy Kearnly; M P Lekota, United Democratic Front; Lybon Mabasa, Azania Peoples Organisation; M Maluk, National Union of Mineworkers; Jeff McCarthy, Geography Department, Durban University; Ismael Mohammed; Curnick Ndlovu, United Democratic Front; Jemma Payne, National Union of Textile Workers; Ebrahim "Cassim" Saloojee, United Democratic Front; L Tsholi, United Democratic Front; Theo Van Der Bergh, Personnel Manager, Toyota; A J Van Der Watt, South African Boilermakers' Iron and Steel Workers, Shipbuilders and Welders Society; Zac Yaccoob, Natal Indian Congress.

Forged letter pertaining to be from William Makepeace Thackery to an unknown recipient, [1850]. 'When I said that I could do no more for you for the present I meant it literally: I never once said it as a simple excuse... When I find that your views on hard work are different I may perhaps have something to say to you. Believe me a lazy life is a curse to any man.

Written and signed in an unknown hand, as if by Thackeray.

Alphabetical list for applicants for the post of porter with the railway, giving name of applicant, residence, age, former employment, by whom recommended and remarks. Undated, probably c1837.

Papers of Harold Johann Thomas Ellingham, 1913-1970, comprising lecture notes made whilst a student at the Royal College of Science (Imperial College), 1914-1916, relating to chemistry, geology, mechanics and mathematics; biographical papers, 1945-1969; personal papers, 1914-1944, including letters of appointment; membership of societies, 1938-1970; technical assignments, 1940-1954; diary of journeys in Mesopotamia, 1917-1918; reprints of papers, 1932-1954; papers concerning the Royal School of Mines Murchison medal, 1914-1915; Ellingham's illness, 1956-1957; award of OBE, 1962; retirement from the Royal Institute of Chemistry, 1962-1963; general correspondence, including letters from Sir Henry Tizard, 1944-1963; papers and correspondence relating to Professor James Charles Philip, 1931-1946; election as Fellow of Imperial College, 1949; histories of Imperial College, 1946-1958; appointment as Special Assistant, Imperial College, 1963-1970; Imperial College Charter and internal government, 1962-1968.

Papers of Harold Fraser, 1923-1924, consist of two parts, copies of correspondence from Harold Fraser in Hamburg, to his employers, Helbert, Wagg and Co, merchant bankers based in London, c 1923-1924 (1567/1) which describe the era of hyper-inflation, unemployment and political unrest in Germany; and a translation of a letter entitled, 'A letter from my father about his experiences during the siege and the German occupation of Warsaw', 1940 (1567/2).

Leaflets, letters, newsletters, journals, posters and pamphlets at federal and state level issued by the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Confederation of Canadian Unions, and the Fédération des travailleurs du Québec, and the Ontario Federation of Labour.

Minutes of the Committee on woman power.

Records of the Pilgrim Trust, including minutes of Trustees meetings; financial records; papers of the Secretary; correspondence; annual reports; publications; annual accounts; ledgers; cash books; grant payment books; and grant files relating to art and learning, countryside preservation, ecclesiastical preservations, secular preservation and social welfare.

Records of the Metropolitan Water Board, comprising a certificate of long service issued to Thomas Scarth, employed as collector by Chelsea Water Works Company from 1896 and retired from Metropolitan Water Board in 1937.

As at Jan 2009, The Women's Library held approximately 1050 posters in the Museum Collection, with c 100 posters identified in the archives.

The earliest posters held result from suffrage activities and can be divided into three main groups; advertisements for meetings and events, illustrated propaganda posters arguing why women should get the vote, and thirdly newspaper bills bearing suffrage related headlines, used to promote paper sales.

All other posters are arranged by subject and date from the 1970s to the present day. The collection represents a mixture of women's campaigning, campaigning by organisations to promote gender equality, and posters produced to advertise women-focused events and publications. There are a small number of posters that portray women's issues and campaign work internationally. The work of The Equal Opportunities Commission in England and Ireland is particularly well represented as a result of a large donation of their obsolete posters during the 1990s. Also well represented with almost 80 posters is the work of See Red Women's Workshop, a women's liberation screen-printing collective (1974-1984).

Two scrapbooks of presscuttings and printed ephemera documenting Miss Nettlefold's legal career and the campaigns relating to women's entry into the legal profession. It also includes legal documents relating to Bebb v. The Law Society, a ms paper [by Miss Nettlefold] entitled, 'Women and the Legal Profession'; and a ts paper entitled, 'History of the efforts to open the legal profession to women in England and Scotland', Mar 1920. Also included are articles on women lawyers in Britain and abroad and cuttings relating to the barrister Helena Normanton.

Papers and photographs relating to the life and career of Agatha H Mardsen Smedley, 1918-1935, notably her work with the WRNS, 1918-1919, British Red Cross Society, 1928-1935, and Auxiliary Territorial Service, 1938-1945, dated 1918-1919, 1928, 1932, 1935, 1942-1946. Papers relating to the celebrations held to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the formation of the WRAF, WRAC and WRNS, 1967. Photocopy of minutes of Greater London Branch of the WRAC Association, Aug 1974, and Marsden Smedley's WRAC Association membership card, 1976.

Minutes of the Central Committee for the Unemployed and various sub-committees, 1904-1905.

Minutes of the Central Unemployed Body for London, 1905-1930, with minutes, agendas and reports of sub-committees including the Classification Committee, Emigration Committee, Employment Exchanges Committee, Finance Committee, Hollesley Bay Rota Committee, Women's Work Committee, Local Advisory Committees, Working Colonies Committee, Works Committee and Special and Joint Committees. Also legal papers, 1905-1914, including tenancy agreements, insurance policies, agreements to supply labour for carrying out works and retention of services of clerical staff on war service; file regarding Workmen's Compensation Insurance, 1906; file regarding deputation to the Local Government Board, 1900s; correspondence with the Ministry of Health, 1919-1929; correspondence regarding activities of the Central Unemployed Body, 1905-1928; annual reports, 1906-1930; report on work in workrooms for women, 1915; report on employment of disabled soliders and sailors, 1915; report on Salvation Army Colonies, 1905; emigration and immigration tables, 1914; report on trade and employment after the First World War, 1916; standing orders, 1906-1913; newspaper cuttings, 1905-1930; emigration register, 1909; Sailing Register (giving age, occupation, destination and number of dependents), 1912-1914; emigration loan registers, 1906-1915; financial records, 1905-1930; plans showing a proposed swimming pool at Burnham on Crouch, 1900s.

Papers relating to the Hollesley Bay Labour Colony including particulars of the sale of the Colonial College, report of surveyors and legal papers, 1903-1926; subject files, 1914-1938, on various subjects including emigration, payment of war bonus to staff, schemes of work, employment of discharged soldiers, administration of the Colony, reports of London Boards of Guardians, publicity, Burnt House Farm, accidents, and sale of the Colony to Prison Commissioners; papers regarding staff including salary forms, 1930-1938; individual case notes, cards and registers of inmates, 1930-1938, including register of applications, admissions and discharge registers and creed register; visitor's books, 1922-1938 and cash books, 1907-1930.

County of London Appeal Tribunal (for Conscientous Objectors) minutes, 1916-1918.

Minute book of the Association for Employment of the Destitute and Truant Poor. The minute book, A/EDT/1, appears to be the first of a series from the remainder of which it has been divorced. From the papers, A/EDT/3-5, addressed to or written by E.C. Bellamy, the Secretary of the Association, it seems that his resignation was accepted in January 1869, but that he did not return the volume (and possibly others) to the Association as requested.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to Employment agencies and the Registration of Theatrical Employers, 1905-1962, including registers of theatrical employers; registers of infringements by employment agencies and theatrical agencies; registers of complaints against employment agencies and theatrical agencies; sample of Public Control Department files on individual employment agencies and theatrical employment agencies; Public Control Department files on cases of special interest; copies of relevant by-laws and regulations; printed lists of applicants for licences.

Papers of Margaret Stevenson Miller, comprising:
Articles by Miller in 'Incorporated Secretaries' Journal' (June-July 1927); copy of Stansfeld trust Lecture (1924); papers of the Six Point group including newsletter and leaflets on meetings (n.d.); press-cuttings on careers for women; manuscript and typed materials including summaries of books on women in industry and employment of women graduates and lectures given to women's organisations in Liverpool (1920s).

This scrapbook consists of press cuttings, mainly from the national press; also including some cuttings from the United States, 1939-1940.

This scrapbook consists of press cuttings on a range of subjects relating to women in public life with particular reference to women in the civil service.

The archive consists of one file relating to the dissolution of the League of Church Militant, including some information about its history, 1928.

This archive consists of annual reports (1926-1938, 1941, 1947-1956, 1959, 1961, 1963-5); agendas and resolutions of Annual Meetings (1948-1963); memoranda (1929-1957); printed leaflets and pamphlets (1926-c.1947)

Abbreviations used include:

Cmd - Command Paper;

ILO - International Labour Organisation (United Nations);

ODC - Open Door Council;

ODI - Open Door International;

UNESCO - United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

The archive consists of:

• Administrative papers (1964-2004)

• minutes of Annual General Meetings and related papers (1977-2004)

• minutes of Executive Committee meetings (1938-2000)

• Financial papers (1982-2004)

• Papers relating to the Ecumenical Network of Women's Ministries (2003-2004)

• Publications (1966-2004)

The archive consists of minutes of the predecessor body, the British Federation of Business and Professional Women Clubs (1933-1935); minutes of the British Federation of Business & Professional Women's Executive Committee (1953-1969), finances and general purposes (1960-1967) and Bridge Committees (1949-1955); minutes of the membership (1954-1955), augmented officers on organisation (1958-1959), publicity (1958-1959), constitutional review (1960), United Nations (1960) and ad-hoc (1955) sub-committees; papers of Annual General Meetings (1942-1971), conference papers, publications (1936-1970); journal 'Women at Work' (1946-1951), newsletters (1960-1967), correspondence and case files (1941-1966), annual accounts (1958-1971), press cuttings (1964-1967); publications of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women including journal 'Widening Horizons' (1942-1958) and reports (1936-1965).

The archive consists of minutes and agenda of the Equal Pay Campaign Committee (EPCC) Executive Committee (1944-1956), subcommittee (1947-1956) and Milestone Dinner Subcommittee (1955); correspondence and administrative files including press cuttings and newsletters (1943-1956); press cuttings files (1943-1956); Finance files including audit accounts, balance sheets, cash books, correspondence and bank documents (1944-56); Card indexes; rubber stamps; poster; publications of Committee and other groups (1944-1955).

The archive consists of minutes of the Joint Committee on Women in the Civil Service (JCWCS) (1919-1936, 1943-1954) and of the Parliamentary Committee on Equal Pay (1935-6); reports and publications (1919-1944); leaflets (1935-1936); correspondence (1919-1928, 1944-1945).

The archive consists of minutes and working papers for the organisations in which Pierotti was involved, namely the National Union of Women Teachers (1924-1964), the Joint Standing Parliamentary Committee of Women's Organisations (1942-1950) and the Status of Women Committee (1945-1978) including details of its establishment; Suffrage material relating to the movement in general, her membership of the Women's Freedom League (1919-1928). There is also material related to the Pethick Lawrences and Charlotte Despard; various press cuttings, pamphlets, photographs, postcards and objects. The pamphlets include material on equal pay and equal rights.

The archive consists of a typescript of Dorothy Elliot's memoirs (1914-1969) in which she described a lifetime of work in organisations dealing with the problems of women in employment. See her biographical history for details of the organisations she worked for. Mrs Elliott concluded the memoir with a tribute to the power of 'domesticity in its fullest sense'.

The archive consists of drafts, typescripts, proofs, correspondence, comments on the drafts of Miss Evans' book 'Women and the Civil Service', published by Pitman. (4 folders)

The archive consists of awards and certificates presented to Lowe, a commemorative album describing her achievements, various photographs, medals, memorabilia, press cuttings and publications.

The archive consists of:

• papers relating to Helena Normanton's career and legal work

• papers relating to matrimonial law reform

• publications and articles by Helena Normanton

• correspondence with editors of publications

• papers relating to Helena Normanton's other interests in history and to other organisations that she was involved with eg Union of Women Voters

• photographs

• press cuttings (eg Helena Normanton's career, articles and reviews, matrimonial law reform)

• Barristers robe, barristers bands, badges

There are no personal papers.

The archive consists of an illustrated typescript autobiography of Mollie Prendergast spanning the greater part of the twentieth century. Includes accounts of her family history and background; her rural childhood and her time in service; the education and working lives of herself and of other family members; her life in London, including during the Blitz; her work as a civil servant; holidays and trips abroad; and her involvement with left wing political and social action.

The archive consists of papers relating to organisations and societies with which Philippa Strachey was involved as part of her activities promoting equal pay, employment and training for women. For some she was the representative of the London and National Society for Women's Service (later the Fawcett Society), while others represent her direct work for education (Cambridge University Women's Appointments Board) and employment (the Women's Service; for which is held notes and correspondence with various trade associations).

There is also a series of personal papers and ephemera. These appears to have been collected by Philippa and includes obituaries, notes on the history of the women's suffrage movement, order of service for Millicent Garrett Fawcett's memorial and a typescript of a play by George Bernard Shaw.

The archive consists of letters and articles written by Ruth Cavendish-Bentinck, press cuttings and articles relating to the suffrage movement, press cuttings and manuscript notes on women's employment, a drawing of and letter from George Bernard Shaw.

The collection consists of 205 interviews available in digital audio file format and one folder of contextual material relating to the interviews, including essays and reports by Brian Harrison. The digital files are copies of the original oral history interview recordings that are held on reel-to-reel cassette.

The collection contains letters from women involved in the arts concerning their work, business matters, publicity, articles and general social correspondence. Correspondents include Sarah Siddons, Emily Faithfull, Fanny Kemble, Elizabeth Thompson, Isabella Dallas Glyn, Mary Davis, Fanny Stirling, Mrs Morritt, Lady Bancroft, Genevieve Ward, Lucy Kemp-Welch, Madge Kendall, Mrs Steele, Philippa Strachey, Ethel Coffin, Rutland Boughton, Marion Terry, Eva Moore, Sybil Thorndyke, Alys Russell, Lena Ashwell, Marie Tempest, Agnes Hill, Marie Lohr, Dame Ethel Smyth, Irene Vanbrugh, Ruth Draper, Ethel Warwick, Dame Laura Knight, Cicely Courtney, Lilian Braithwaite and Ninette de Valois.

The collection contains letters between members of the Strachey family and other correspondents. Writers include Philippa Strachey, Ralph Strachey, Richard Strachey, Oliver Strachey, Sir Richard Strachey, Pernel Strachey, James Strachey, Lady Jane Strachey, Dorothy Strachey, Marjorie Strachey, Elinor Rendel, Dorothy Bussy, Roger Fry, Virginia Woolf and Mlle Souvestre.

9/27/A- Letters between Roger Fry and Philippa Strachey 1915-1933.

9/27/B- Letters from Ralph Strachey to Philippa Strachey 1869-1893.

9/27/C- Letters to Philippa Strachey from Richard Strachey 1886-1917 and to Philippa Strachery from Oliver Strachey 1906-1912 (Begin at AL/4767).

9/27/D- Ralph at School 1878-1889; James at School 1899; Elinor Rendel 1889-1896; Sir Richard Strachey 1889-1899; Pernel Strachey 1891 & 1894-1895.

9/27/E- Letters from: Pippa to her mother 1902/1905; Passport 1915; Dorothy Strachey to Pippa Strachey 1895-1903; Dorothy Bussy to Pippa Strachey 1903-1929; Marjorie Strachey to Pippa Strachey 1898-1956; Ray Strachey to Pippa Strachey 1911-1929.

9/27/F- Letters from friends and acquaintances to various members of the Strachey family 1865 to 1958; Letters from Marietta Pallis to Philippa Strachey Nov 1955-Jan 1957 - begin AL/5073; Letters of Condolence on the death of Pernel Strachey. Arranged alphabetically 1951-1952 - begin AL/5097.

9/27/G- Letters from Mlle Souvestre to Mrs Strachey written in French from 'Les Ruches'; The Strachey letters Volume 27 Part G II, Letters from Mlle Souvestre to Mrs Strachey, Written in French 1874-1879 - Begin AL/5156.

Over 3,000 periodical titles are held dating from 1745, some in single issues, but many in complete or representative runs. The Periodicals Collection brings together academic, popular and campaigning women's journals in one location and gives a unique insight into periodicals published about, for and by women. Titles range from commercially-produced popular magazines (Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan), to academic quarterlies (Gender and History, Feminist Review), organisational journals (One Parent Families, National Association of Women Pharmacists), special interest publications (Executive Black Woman), and older titles such as the English Woman's Journal. Many of these titles are not held in other research collections. The non-commercial nature of many of these periodicals with limited self-published print runs, resulted in periodicals that were issued irregularly, on poor quality paper and often only selectively deposited with the main copyright libraries.

COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED

The Library's collection of commercially published magazines, a key resource for research into social history and popular culture, begins with the Ladies' Almanack of the 1740s and documents women's fashion and domestic concerns from runs of the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine, The Queen, Ladies' Magazine, Ladies Monthly Magazine and Lady, Gentlewoman, in the 19th century; Home Chat, Woman's Weekly, Woman, Woman's Own, Honey,, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire in the 20th century; Grazia, Glamour and Easy Living of more recent years. Also included are some magazines aimed at girls and young women such as The Girls' Own Paper, Petticoat, Just 17 and Jackie.

FEMINIST AND CAMPAIGNING

At the heart of the Periodical Collection are the women's campaigning journals and feminist periodicals. The collection of feminist periodicals at The Women's Library is unrivalled in its extent and breadth. It begins with the English Woman's Journal of the mid-19th century, and continues with titles such as The Young Women and includes complete runs of titles such as The Women's Penny Paper, the Woman's Herald, Victoria Magazine, the Woman's Signal, the Woman's Leader, Englishwoman's Review, Englishwoman, Freewoman, Time and Tide, Woman's Gazette, and Shafts all of which were key to the development of feminist theory and progressive ideas.

SUFFRAGE

The Library's extensive collection of suffrage periodicals is central to the study of women's rights in the 20th century, titles including Votes for Women, Common Cause, Woman's Dreadnought, The Vote, the Women's Suffrage Journal, Women's Franchise, the Suffragette Newssheet, the Independent Suffragette, Britannia, and the Suffragette as well as titles such as the Anti-Suffrage Review.

WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT

The collection of journals documenting 'second-wave' feminism in the UK includes complete runs of titles such as Spare Rib and Trouble and Strife and near complete runs of other liberation titles such as Red Rag, Shrew, WIRES, Outwrite and the London Women's Liberation Newsletter. Regional involvement was an integral part of the movement and this is charted through a number of regional titles including Brighton and Hove Women's Liberation Group, Edinburgh Women's Liberation newsletter, Leeds Women's Liberation newsletter, Leicester Women's Liberation newsletter, Manchester Women's Liberation newsletter and Norwich Women's Centre newsletter.

CONTEMPORARY FEMINISTS

The periodical holdings continue to document the development of contemporary feminism, sometimes referred to as 'third wave', with titles including Verve and Subtext. Additional contemporary feminist publications can be found within our 'zine' collection (dating from 2002).

WOMEN'S ORGANISATIONS

Periodicals created by women's organisations, networks and campaigns. These can include weekly or monthly newsletters and magazines aimed at members, quarterly and annual journals aimed at members and a wider academic audience, and annual reports aimed at a wider audience. Given the short life of many campaigning organisations, their newsletters and bulletins often provide the main record of their activities. Few of these publications are held elsewhere, and they are only selectively deposited with national collections, organisations include: the Fawcett Society, National Council of Women, The National Federation of Women's Institutes (Home and Country), Townswomen's Guilds (The Townswoman), UK Federation of Business and Professional Women, Girls' Friendly Society, Executive Black Woman, Catholic Citizen and National Association of Women Pharmacists document women's efforts to come together to improve the quality of their lives.

SPECIALIST INTEREST

Whilst retaining the collecting focus of women's lives in the UK, there are a number of subject specialist interest areas including:

• The Arts - titles such as Feminist Arts News, Heresies: a feminist publication on art and politics, n.paradoxa: international feminist art journal, Vogue and Women's Art Magazine.

• Domestic Violence - titles such as Rights of Women Bulletin, Violence Against Women: an international interdisciplinary journal and Women at War: preventing gun violence, WAVAV - Women Against Violence Against Women.

• Education - titles such as Gender and Education, The Woman Teacher, Gen: an anti-Sexist Education Journal, British Federation of University Women, and The Parents' Review.

• Employment - titles such as Work and Leisure, Women's Union Journal, Labour Woman, Women's Trade Union Review, Equality Now: magazine of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Executive Woman, the Woman Worker, The Woman Engineer: journal of the Woman's Engineering Society and Double shift: working women's newsletter.

• Family and the home - titles such as Women's Weekly, Woman's Own, Family Planning Today and New Home economics.

• Feminist Theory - titles such as Feminist Studies, Feminist Economics, Feminist Theory, and the International Journal of Feminist Studies.

• Health - titles such as Women and Health, Top Sante, London Black Women's Health Action project newsletter and Mental Health.

• Law - titles such as ALRA newsletter: Campaigning for a Woman's Right to Choose on Abortion, Family Law, Individualist: monthly journal of personal rights, Lesbian Employment Rights, and Rights of Women Bulletin, National Abortion Campaign.

• Literature - titles such as Mslexia, Silver Moon Quarterly and Writing Women.

• Media - titles such as Feminist Media Studies, The Woman Journalist and Women's Media Action Bulletin.

• Medicine - titles such as Women in Medicine: newsletter of the Medical Women's Federation and National Association of Women Pharmacists newsletter.

• Motherhood - titles such as Home and Family: journal of the Mother's Union, Journal of Marriage and Family, Maternity Alliance, Gingerbread, One Parent Families, World Congress of Mothers News and Information.

• Sexuality - titles such as Sappho, Sex Roles: a journal of research, Journal of the history of sexuality, Chroma, Diva, Arena Three and Dykelife.

• Women and peace - titles such as Woman today, Greenham Newsletter, Peace and Freedom News: journal of the British Section of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Sellafield Women's Peace Camp Newsletter, Women for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Newsletter and WoMenwith Hill: Women's Peace Camp Newsletter.

• Politics - titles such as Equal Opportunities International, Gender and Society and the NAWO e-bulletin (National Alliance of Women's Organisations).

• Prostitution - titles such as The Shield: to promote the repeal of Contagious Diseases Act, Network: news from the English Collective of Prostitutes and WHISPER: Women hurt in systems of prostitution engaged in revolt.

• Ethnicity - titles such as Pride, Race Today and Manushi.

• Religion - titles such as Church Militant, Jewish Women's Review, Catholic Citizen, Newsheet/Women Living Under Muslim Laws International Solidarity Network, and Movement for the Ordination of Women.

• Science and Technology are The Woman Engineer, Science for People, Women Chemists Newsletter and Forum: Journal of the Association for Women in Science and Engineering.

• Sport - titles such as Poise: the Health and beauty magazine, Ladies' Alpine Club, The Dyke: Lesbian Walkers' Magazine, Women in Sport: the Voice of Women's Sport and Outdoor Women.

Notebook of Emilia Frances, Lady Dilke, 1890-1891, containing notes on labour questions affecting women, used by Lady Dilke in speeches for the Women's Trade Union League; subjects include women in unskilled trades; labour in the great towns; notes for speech in Newcastle-unon-Tyne, 1891; shop assistants and notes for speech to Girls' Letter Guild, Birmingham, 1892.

Financial records of the National Union of Domestic Workers, 1938-1953, comprising: Ledger and cash books (including branch accounts), 1938-1953; St John's Wood Branch, London, account book, 1938-1941.

Papers of Gertrude Tuckwell, mainly relating to her period with the Women's Trade Union League (WTUL), c.1890-1921. The papers comprise correspondence and notes as well as a substantial press cuttings collection, pamphlets and reports. The collection was systematically assembled by Tuckwell, to illuminate key issues and events in women's struggle for equality and representation. Major legislative initiatives are covered, as are social issues and the activities of political parties. The subjects cover the whole range of contemporary issues relating to women's political and employment rights, including anti-sweating campaigns, trade union organisation, health and safety in factories and workshops, Labour Party and Co-operative Movement activities, suffrage campaigns, and issues relating to women at work during World War One. In addition to this main set of papers, there is a typescript of "Reminiscences", her unpublished autobiography, and files of correspondence, articles and personal papers,1907-1951.

Papers collected by Ron Heisler, including: records and minutes books of the Harrovian Juvenile Oddfellows Society / Loyal Pride of Harrow Lodge recording membership, payments, degrees of membership and other information (1828-1958); scrapbooks relating to the life and career of civil servant Sir William Robert Fraser, including scrapbook of cuttings relating to the erection of a statue of Charles I in London and a scrapbook containing letters and ephemera on his career in the civil service (1898-1946); miscellaneous manuscript material collected by Ron Heisler, including minute books of Hackney Co-operative Party, Staines Co-operative Party and Homerton and South Hackney Claimant Union, a scrapbook of articles written by William Durrant Cooper and other items (1847-1981); photographs and photograph albums, including photographs of unemployment protests during the 1930s, images from the Spanish Civil War and albums kept by communists Molly and Bill Smith (1936-1953); miscellaneous cartoons and illustrations regarding political and social themes (1792-1883); posters, calendars and framed items regarding social and political themes, or produced by political organisations, including promotional posters for performances at the Unity Theatre, London (1898-2003).

Records of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Manpower / Medical Workforce Advisory Committee, 1980-2001, comprising annual statistical reports on manpower in obstetrics and gynaecology, 1990-2007; agenda, minutes and committee papers, 1987-2003; papers relating to special surveys and studies on a range of issues, including recruitment and hours of work, 1988-2000.

Papers of Max Lock, 1936-1988, produced and collected by Max Lock and the Max Lock Group, relate to Lock's career as a planner and architect and to wider issues in planning, particularly after World War Two, and comprise working papers (including survey papers) and finished material.

They include correspondence; notes and card indexes; photographs (some aerial), slides, drawings, maps and plans; Bills, Acts, white papers and other official publications; books, articles, reports and other publications (some annotated); typescripts; press cuttings; and conference papers. The bulk of the material dates from the 1940s to the early 1970s. Material relating to Lock's career and projects within the UK includes papers on his time as a Watford councillor and his architectural practice in the 1930s, including a timber house he designed at Stanmore, Middlesex; Hull, 1939-1957, including conflicts between Lock and his superiors; Scalby, 1940-1941; Middlesborough, 1943-1970; Hartlepool, 1946-1970; Portsmouth, 1948-1973; Salisbury, 1949-1969; Sutton Coldfield, 1950-1967; Bedford, 1950-1971; Sevenoaks, 1954-1965; Aberdare, 1957-1959; Stratford (West Ham), 1957-1962; Hackney and Shoreditch, 1960-1971; Woodley, 1962-1969; Oldham, 1962-1971; Covent Garden, 1963-1971; Battle, 1964; Brentford and Chiswick, 1964-1970; Torbay, 1968-1969; Dunstable, 1968-1972; Greater London Development Plan Inquiry, 1969-1971, and other material on GLC planning and transport; Beverley, 1969-1972. Material on projects and visits overseas includes papers on Scandinavia, 1937-1939, 1946-1949; India, Pakistan and Ceylon, 1946-1955; the Netherlands, including the Town Planning Institute Tour (1946), 1946-1957; the Americas, including Brazil, the West Indies and the USA, 1952-1969; Italy, 1952-1970; the Middle East, including Iraq and Jordan, 1954-1958; Australia, 1959-1960; Aden, 1960-1961; Kuwait, 1961; Nigeria, including Kaduna and Maiduguri, 1962-1975.

The collection includes a large volume of accumulated material, 1944-1987, largely printed material by other authors, including other planners, planning bodies and architects, some from architectural and planning journals and from the national and regional press, on planning and related issues both in the UK and overseas, such as planning law and procedures; central and local government and administration; public inquiries; housing; historic buildings; urban development; industry and retail; transport infrastructure, including roads and ports; traffic, noise, and the environment; social and economic issues including employment, labour, and social class; population levels and density; public amenities and utilities; land use and open space; and statistical data. Some papers relate to the affairs, including legal and financial matters, of the Max Lock Group; the architectural work of Max Lock and Partners; premises in Victoria Square, London; and the Max Lock Group Nigeria. Papers of or concerning Lock himself include his notebooks and other papers reflecting the development of his ideas; papers relating to publications and broadcasts; papers relating to professional bodies, including the TPI, RIBA, TCPA and UDAG; personal correspondence; photographs of him and his friends; papers on music and architecture, including lecture notes; articles about Lock, and his obituary in the Independent, 3 May 1988.

Minutes and papers of the Ministry of Reconstruction, 1917-1919, acquired by Sir William Henry Beveridge during his work as a civil servant during World War One. Includes papers of the Reconstruction Committee, notably reports, memoranda, statistics, committee papers, minutes and other documents collated by the Women's Employment Sub-Committee and its Industry Group concerning the types and conditions of employment of women in England and Wales, notably in key industries such as munitions, and details of schemes to substitute them with men; and correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes and the final report of the Civil War Workers Committee, concerning the demobilisation of women employed as clerks, secretaries, shop assistants etc during World War One, including memoranda by the Women's Industrial Council.

Central and Local Government reports and pamphlets collated by Sir William Henry Beveridge, 1886-1914, relating to the causes and incidence of unemployment and its possible cures, such as labour exchanges, benefits and relief, and including material created by the Charity Organisation Society, provincial Distress Committees (Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Burton-upon-Trent, Coventry, Dudley, East Ham, Edinburgh, Great Yarmouth, Halifax, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Reading, Sunderland, Warrington, West Ham, and Wolverhampton), various London boroughs (Bermondsey, Bethnal Green, Camberwell, Chelsea, Deptford, Finsbury, Fulham, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith, Hampstead, Holborn, Lambeth, Lewisham, Paddington, Poplar, Marylebone, Saint Pancras, Southwark, Stepney, Stoke Newington, Wandsworth, Westminster, and Woolwich), the Central (Unemployed) Body for London, and the government of Great Britain. Includes reports and pamphlets on unemployment written by individual authors, for which there is an index.

Lansbury's personal and political correspondence; correspondence between Lansbury's biographer, Raymond Postgate, and others after his death; correspondence and papers on subjects of interest to Lansbury, including schools, the Labour Party, unemployment, agriculture, India, the 1931 Cabinet Crisis, and the Metropolitan Police; photographs, personal and official, and caricatures from the press; press reviews of Lansbury's published works; printed matter, including articles, pamphlets, speeches and leaflets by or concerning Lansbury, election addresses, and personal ephemera. Volumes 1 - 26 consist of the personal and political correspondence and papers used by Lansbury's son-in-law, Raymond Postgate, in researching The Life of George Lansbury, published in 1951. These papers were presented to the British Library of Political and Economic Science by Professor Postgate in 1950. Volumes 27 - 30 were added to the collection some time later, and volume 31 consists of three files of personal correspondence which were added to the collection in 1994 and one file found in 1999.

Papers of Beatrice Nancy Seear, Baroness Seear of Paddington, [1930]-1997, mainly comprising case studies, reports and memoranda relating to her work with the Runnymeade Industrial Unit, the London Business School Minority Groups, and the Community Relations Commission, as well as material concerning women's employment.

Staff records of Whitbread and Company Limited, including salary books and ledgers giving information on weekly and monthly salaries over a range of time periods along with details of annuities, pensions and superannuation funds. There are also lists of employees from as early as 1841 (some of which are organised according to occupation), attendance books and information on ex-servicemen employed after the First World War along with sick pay and accident report books, and papers from the 1960s and 1970s detailing company employment policy.

Personnel records of Queen Mary College, comprising personnel files for administrative and technical staff, dated by year of departure, 1952-1990 (with few files before 1965), and for teaching staff, [1985]-1990.