Collection GB 0074 LMA/4463 - HUNTLEY, Eric and Jessica {GUYANESE BLACK POLITICAL CAMPAIGNERS, COMMUNITY WORKERS AND EDUCATIONALISTS}

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 LMA/4463

Title

HUNTLEY, Eric and Jessica {GUYANESE BLACK POLITICAL CAMPAIGNERS, COMMUNITY WORKERS AND EDUCATIONALISTS}

Date(s)

  • 1940s - 2012 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

5.32 linear metres.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley, radical book publishers and pioneering Black political activists have been prolifically involved with the British African-Caribbean community's experience from the first arrival in England in 1956 to the first decade of the twenty-first century.

For over 50 years the Huntley's participated in many of the significant grassroots campaigns for racial and social justice that occurred on the national and international scene including the black supplementary schools movement of the 1960s and 70s, the Black Parents Movement which campaigned against the controversial 'Sus' laws and organised legal defence for black and Asian people arrested during the Southall riots of 1979, the New Cross Massacre Action Committee, organiser of the 1981 Black People's Day of Action march that attracted 20,000 black Britons from all over the country and was the largest protest march of black Britons to take place in Britain, and patronage of the Keskidee Centre, Britain's first Afro-Caribbean cultural centre from the 1970s to the 1990s.

The Huntleys were also active in international campaigns to end the South African apartheid regime, political repression in their home country Guyana and free American, former Black Panther and radio journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who was on death row in Pennsylvania. Their publishing house Bogle L'Ouverture published landmark texts by Walter Rodney and Bernard Coard. They are highly respected within the black community as elders for their longstanding commitment, contribution and participation in radical movements and organisations that articulated the interests of the black community.

Jessica Elleisse Huntley nee Carroll (occasionally known as seko or sica by those close to her) was born in Bagotstown British Guiana on 23 February 1927 to Hectorine and James Carroll; she was the youngest of five children and had four brothers Robert, Munroe, Newburne and Hadden.

Eric Lindbergh Huntley was born 25 September 1929 Georgetown, British Guiana to Selina and Frank Huntley, he was one of twelve children, who included Vera, Stella, Ovid, Stella, Yvonne, Rudolph, Cyril, Patrick, Patsy, Nicholas and Audrey.

Jessica and Eric Huntley shared a similar political worldview and often worked together on a number of projects. For further information please see introductions to specific sections of the catalogue.

Archival history

Initially, Eric and Jessica Huntley wished to provide their own centre in their local area in Ealing for the consultation of their archives. Unfortunately this dream could not be fulfilled and the Huntleys, wishing to make their collections accessible to the wider community began exploring alternative options, first with a South London university and finally deposit option with the LMA. The relationship between LMA and the Huntleys germinated through the friendship with Yinnon Ezra of Hampshire County Council sought advice from the Head Archivist of Hampshire Record Office as to options for the Huntleys' archives.
GB 0074 LMA/4463 1940s - 2012 Collection 5.32 linear metres. Huntley , Jessica Elleisse , b 1927 , political campaigner and publisher
Huntley , Eric Lindbergh , b 1929 , political campaigner and publisher

Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley, radical book publishers and pioneering Black political activists have been prolifically involved with the British African-Caribbean community's experience from the first arrival in England in 1956 to the first decade of the twenty-first century.

For over 50 years the Huntley's participated in many of the significant grassroots campaigns for racial and social justice that occurred on the national and international scene including the black supplementary schools movement of the 1960s and 70s, the Black Parents Movement which campaigned against the controversial 'Sus' laws and organised legal defence for black and Asian people arrested during the Southall riots of 1979, the New Cross Massacre Action Committee, organiser of the 1981 Black People's Day of Action march that attracted 20,000 black Britons from all over the country and was the largest protest march of black Britons to take place in Britain, and patronage of the Keskidee Centre, Britain's first Afro-Caribbean cultural centre from the 1970s to the 1990s.

The Huntleys were also active in international campaigns to end the South African apartheid regime, political repression in their home country Guyana and free American, former Black Panther and radio journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who was on death row in Pennsylvania. Their publishing house Bogle L'Ouverture published landmark texts by Walter Rodney and Bernard Coard. They are highly respected within the black community as elders for their longstanding commitment, contribution and participation in radical movements and organisations that articulated the interests of the black community.

Jessica Elleisse Huntley nee Carroll (occasionally known as seko or sica by those close to her) was born in Bagotstown British Guiana on 23 February 1927 to Hectorine and James Carroll; she was the youngest of five children and had four brothers Robert, Munroe, Newburne and Hadden.

Eric Lindbergh Huntley was born 25 September 1929 Georgetown, British Guiana to Selina and Frank Huntley, he was one of twelve children, who included Vera, Stella, Ovid, Stella, Yvonne, Rudolph, Cyril, Patrick, Patsy, Nicholas and Audrey.

Jessica and Eric Huntley shared a similar political worldview and often worked together on a number of projects. For further information please see introductions to specific sections of the catalogue.

Initially, Eric and Jessica Huntley wished to provide their own centre in their local area in Ealing for the consultation of their archives. Unfortunately this dream could not be fulfilled and the Huntleys, wishing to make their collections accessible to the wider community began exploring alternative options, first with a South London university and finally deposit option with the LMA. The relationship between LMA and the Huntleys germinated through the friendship with Yinnon Ezra of Hampshire County Council sought advice from the Head Archivist of Hampshire Record Office as to options for the Huntleys' archives.

Their archive collections were the first deposit from the African-Caribbean community to be made to the London Metropolitan Archives, in 2005 with additional deposits since that time.

Personal records of Eric and Jessica Huntley relating to non-publishing businesses, political campaigns, community and heritage initiatives, education work, concerns with the environment in the Caribbean and papers relating to their personal lives including family and friends.

Please see individual sections for further information.

These records are arranged as follows:

LMA/4463/A Businesses;
LMA/4463/B Political Campaigns;
LMA/4463/C Community and Heritage;
LMA/4463/D Education;
LMA/4463/E Environment;
LMA/4463/F Personal, Family and Friends;
LMA/4463/G Collected material [this section remains uncatalogued - please contact staff for further information].

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

There was much fluidity between the work of the publishing house and the political campaigning and community work in which the Huntleys were involved. These activities were related to and supported each other. Their personal and business papers were housed together.

See LMA/4462 for records of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Limited, founded by Eric and Jessica Huntley and associated publishing organisations, personal papers of Lionel and Pansy Jeffrey and Andrew Salkey.

For sources on Walter Rodney please see LMA Information Leaflet Number 35: Researching Walter Rodney in the Huntley archives. See also LMA Information Leaflet Number 21: Black Caribbean Community Archives at London Metropolitan Archives.

See also BTWSA's NARM (Naming and Role Models): Highlighting African British Male Role Models 1907-2007 interview with Eric Huntley (LMA/4569/01/01/003-004).

See also George Padmore Institute collections relating to New Beacon Books and John La Rose, who worked closely with the Huntleys and their business. The George Padmore Institute, 76 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EN.

The archives of the Institute of Race Relations include a 'Black History Collection'. These are held by the Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS.

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. Records prepared May to September 2011. African peoples African-Caribbean peoples Archives Personal archives Groups Campaign groups Internal politics Political campaigns Ethnic groups Interethnic relations Black peoples Community participation Ethnic discrimination Family archives Community development Community leaders Nonformal education Community education Information sources Documents Primary documents Personal papers Family records Racial discrimination Rights of special groups Huntley , Jessica Elleisse , b 1927 , political campaigner and publisher Huntley , Eric Lindbergh , b 1929 , political campaigner and publisher Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Ltd , specialists in books from and about the Caribbean , Africa , Afro-America and Asia London England UK Western Europe Europe Guyana South America

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Their archive collections were the first deposit from the African-Caribbean community to be made to the London Metropolitan Archives, in 2005 with additional deposits since that time.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Personal records of Eric and Jessica Huntley relating to non-publishing businesses, political campaigns, community and heritage initiatives, education work, concerns with the environment in the Caribbean and papers relating to their personal lives including family and friends.

Please see individual sections for further information.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

These records are arranged as follows:

LMA/4463/A Businesses;
LMA/4463/B Political Campaigns;
LMA/4463/C Community and Heritage;
LMA/4463/D Education;
LMA/4463/E Environment;
LMA/4463/F Personal, Family and Friends;
LMA/4463/G Collected material [this section remains uncatalogued - please contact staff for further information].

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

There was much fluidity between the work of the publishing house and the political campaigning and community work in which the Huntleys were involved. These activities were related to and supported each other. Their personal and business papers were housed together.

See LMA/4462 for records of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Limited, founded by Eric and Jessica Huntley and associated publishing organisations, personal papers of Lionel and Pansy Jeffrey and Andrew Salkey.

For sources on Walter Rodney please see LMA Information Leaflet Number 35: Researching Walter Rodney in the Huntley archives. See also LMA Information Leaflet Number 21: Black Caribbean Community Archives at London Metropolitan Archives.

See also BTWSA's NARM (Naming and Role Models): Highlighting African British Male Role Models 1907-2007 interview with Eric Huntley (LMA/4569/01/01/003-004).

See also George Padmore Institute collections relating to New Beacon Books and John La Rose, who worked closely with the Huntleys and their business. The George Padmore Institute, 76 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EN.

The archives of the Institute of Race Relations include a 'Black History Collection'. These are held by the Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS.

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

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