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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 is arranged in chronological order and includes letters written by and to individuals concerned with work in this area, including: Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, Sir John Seeley, George Eliot, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, Cardinal Manning, Lady Strangford, Lord Shaftesbury, Mr Rickman J Godlee Dr Helen Wilson, Dr Sophia Jex-Blake, Frances Power Cobbe, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Lord Baldwin and Margaret Lawrence (45 items, 1865-c.1972). Subjects include the training of women as doctors, the medical profession and their experiences as medical students.

The archive consists of working papers, leaflets, articles (1973-1987) and a photocopy of a periodical 'Women and Librarianship', volume 5 number 4 1984.

Records of Women in Gynaecology and Obstetrics, comprising:
Minutes (1982-1996), correspondence, policy papers, campaigning material, training programmes, conference papers (1991-1997) and published articles (1985-1997).

Collection of books, leaflets, articles and periodicals relating to women and employment. Includes: 'The Position of Women after the War' Committee of Women's Organisations, 1916; 'Women in Industry after the War' by B L Hutchins, 1917; 'Payment structures and smaller firms: women's employment in segmented labour markets' by Christine Craig and others, 1985, reference HD 6061; 'The position of women in industry' by Nancy Seear, 1968, reference HD 6664; 'Putting equality into practice: a Shadow Ministry of Women consultation document' 1991; 'Unemployed Women: a study of attitudes and experiences' by Arnold Cragg and Tim Dawson, 1984. Other topics includes: legislation, local government, First World War, Second World War and other countries. Periodicals include: Woman Engineer, Women's Gazette, Women and Manual Trades Newsletter.

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.

Board of Trade papers mainly connected with labour exchanges, national insurance, overseas trade and war time administration.

Record of the inhabitants of Katharine Buildings, Cartwright Street, Aldgate, London.

The archive consists of files on the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme (1948-1953), Royal Commission on Taxation (1944-1960), Women's superannuation (1947-1950), the Institute of Chartered Accountants (undated.), equal pay (undated.) and the Fawcett Society (undated.); private correspondence including letters from Philippa Strachey (1928-1961).

Papers of Michael Ward, member of the Greater London Council (GLC). The records are representative of the sort of organisations and issues Michael Ward dealt with in his capacity as Chair of the Industry and Employment Committee of the Greater London Council in the 1980s. The files of correspondence, minutes, funding applications and feasibility studies show that the Committee was particularly involved with issuing grants to worthy projects, supporting workers in disputes with employers, assessing the impact of new building developments in London, creating schemes, such as co-operatives, to assist people to work together and ensuring that all Londoners were fairly represented in the workplace.

Michael Ward was also Chair of the Enterprise Board Selection Panel, part of the Greater London Enterprise Board. GLEB was set up in 1982 to intervene and take initiatives to preserve and create long-term jobs for Londoners by regenerating the capital's industrial base. It aimed to discover and develop means of democratising London's economy. This collection contains its memorandum and articles of association together with correspondence, some publications and press releases.

The collection reflects some of the beliefs held by the GLC in general and not just those of the Committees Michael Ward sat on. For example, its enthusiasm for fair trade in Third World countries, the importance of equal opportunities at work and the value of the pedestrian and residential areas in cities

Papers of Richard Wainwright MP, c 1868-2005, including personal papers, papers relating to the Colne Valley constituency and general election campaigns, articles, speeches and press releases written by Wainwright and Liberal Party policy papers; papers relating to Richard Wainwright's time at Cambridge University, his work for the Friends Ambulance Unit during World War II and the Rowntree Reform Social Services Trust (now the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust). Further papers relate to his wife, Joyce's, involvement in the Yorkshire Women's Liberal Federation.

The archive consists of answers given by Phyllis Vickers to a questionnaire on the 'position of married women in the British civil service', sent to Lady Paton, wife of the vice-chancellor of Melbourne University, at the request of Mary Field (with covering letters). The questionnaire specifically relates to the following issues: the marriage bar, Equal Pay, Equal Access to Jobs, Equal Promotion, maternity leave, superannuation, pension rights, relationships between single and married female employees, absence and punctuality of married women (compared to single women and men), retention and recruitment, grades. Vickers appears to have been a civil service employee, and her answers provide facts about civil service policy mainly gleaned from official literature.

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.

Articles by Reygoobady Thanacody on conditions in Mauritius including food production, transport, social behaviour and unemployment, 1980-1991.

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.

The archive consists of a small notebook containing manuscript notes from books and lectures on subjects including women's suffrage, employment and legislation. The volume includes notes under the following headings:

'Women's Suffrage Debate 28 Feb 1908'; 'United Kingdom Hospitals - Conference University College London Apr 1908'; organisation of a Votes for Women event; 'Mrs Wolstenholme Elmy on Married Women's Property Act 1882'; 'Meetings at Queen's Hall, Ladbroke Hall'; 'Self Denial Week'; 'Miss M Brockenbury - The Educated Woman and the Vote' [report of speech]; 'Mrs Brownlow's Pamphlet - Women and Factory Legislation'; Australia: Minimum Wage, Victor Clark Labour Movement; America - Licensing systems, Machinery, Factory, Jewish Competition, women voters in Colorado, New Zealand, Wyoming; 'Housing Bill 1908'; speech by John Burns; 'Pauperism 1st quarter 1908' [statistics]; dates of legislation affecting women 1844-1897; Reform Bill; women's work - florists, acrobats, pattern makers, married women in factories, cotton trade, carding hooks and eyes, cigar trade; posts closed to women - Law, medicine, church, politics; women in Inspectorate - prisons, factory , schools; women's wages; 'Government as Employers'; sweated labour; Anti-sweating Demonstration Queen's Hall Jan 28 1908; women prisoners; employment of children; Married women's savings; women married to aliens; Married Women's Property Act 1882; Guardianship of children.

The volume also included the following loose inserts which have been removed and are held within the folder:

Press cuttings:

'Unemployment - Salford and the scheme for women', Manchester Guardian, 22 Jan 1909

'Child labour in Egypt', Manchester Guardian,15 Jul 1908

'Australia and women's suffrage', Manchester Guardian, 1 Feb 1910

'Women as Councillors - the narrow range of choice', Manchester Guardian, 22 Jan 1909

'Votes for Women - women voters', Manchester Guardian, 19 Jun c. 1910

'University Women Teachers - the vote a necessary leverage in their work' Manchester Guardian, c. 1910

'London's unknown Museums - special LCC survey', The Times, 11 Mar 1936

'The Sacredness of motherhood', Common Cause, 24 Mar 1910

'Infant mortality and working mothers', Common Cause, c. 1910

'Why women need the vote', Common Cause, 21 Mar 1910

'The equal standard', Common Cause, c. 1910

Loose page from a leaflet on equal pay in Australia.

Manuscript notes on working women

Manuscript notes on The Present Conciliation Bill

Manuscript notes on women prisoners and comparisons with conditions abroad

Manuscript notes on women as a moral force

Manuscript notes on two speakers: Miss Phillips and Miss Fothergill

Manuscript notes on the function of the state and women's work

Manuscript notes on infant deaths

The collection contains correspondence of Edith Palliser, Pippa Strachey, Eva Gore-Booth, Eileen Hughes and Edith Dimmock amongst others, notes on various professions such as journalism, bookbinding and fashion designing, and materials issued by the Women's Industrial Council, the Women's Labour League and the London Society for Women's Suffrage.

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 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.

The archive consists of correspondence between Eva Stephenson and her fiance Maurice Wilkins, covering the period 1910-1914. The letters describe Stephenson's experiences in Holloway prison for suffrage activism in 1910 (some letters are written on prison regulation notepaper), her life as an office worker and her family relationships. Subjects covered include: relationships with other suffragettes in prison; trials of the prison regime; Christmas in Holloway; her relationship with her mother who disapproved of her suffrage campaigning; reflections on her upbringing; employment in an office and enjoyment of her independence; her relationship with her future husband.

With typescript transcriptions of the letters by William Paul Wilkins, son of Eva and Maurice Wilkins (produced in 1998). The transcriptions include a name and place index.

Records of the Status of Women Committee including minutes, conference papers, correspondence and publications. Papers mainly date from 1969 to 1982.

Minutes and presented papers of Special Committees, Joint Committees and Advisory Committees of the Middlesex County Council, 1889-1965:

Airports Committee

Arms Committee

Auxiliary Forces Committee

Barnet Union Committee

Bridges Committee

Common Interests Committee

County Solicitor Committee

Dyrham Park Committee

Edmonton Union Committee

Education Committee

Governance Committee

Guildhall Committee

Health Committee

Local Government Committee

Medical Committee

Member of County Council Committee

National Insurance Committee

Officers Committee

Pensions Committee

Physically Handicapped Committee

Planning Committee

Poor Law Committee

Quarter Sessions Committee

Refuse Dumps Committee

Registration of Title Committee

Richmond Hill Committee

Road Stone Committee

Testimonial Committee

Thames Committee

Unemployed Workmen Committee

Vagrancy Committee

Voluntary Hospitals Committee

Wild Birds Committee

Minutes and presented papers of London County Council special and joint committees, 1889-1965, as follows:

Allegations (Council Officials) Committee

Special Committee on the Establishment of an Ambulance Service

Special Committee on Building Control

Advisory Committee on the Control on the Construction of Buildings in London

Charing Cross Bridge Advisory Committee

Church of England Advisory Board on Spiritual Ministration

Special Committee on Contracts

Special Joint Committee on the provision of Coroner's Courts and Mortuaries

Council Chamber and Offices Committee

Special Committee on the transfer of County Business

County Hall Luncheon Club Committee

County Rate Committee

Departmental Committees on the Organisation and Working of LCC Departments

Special Committee on the Office of Deputy Chairman of the Council

Advisory Committee on the Design of Consumer Goods

Special Committee on Finance Bill, 1914

Special Committee on Fire Insurance

Greater London Regional Planning Committee

Meetings of Heads of Departments

Special Committee on Health Administration in London

Hospitals Committee

Interim Panel

Juveniles Committee

Lack of Employment Conference

Joint Committee on the working of the Leyton tramways

Loan Fund for Prospective Teachers

Special Committee on Local Expenditure

Local Pension Committee

Special Committee on Locomotion and Transport in London

London Air Terminal

Advisory Committee on the Amendment of the London Building Act, 1930

Special Committee on London Electricity Supply

Special Committee on changes in London Local Government

Special Committee on London Government

London War Pensions Committee

Special Joint Committee on the Control of lunatics, imbeciles and infectious poor

Advisory Committee on combined medical appointments in Division 9 of the LCC Public Health Department

Members and Staff Committee

Joint Committee of Members and School-keepers

Special Committee of Inquiry into certain matters of administration in the Mental Hospitals Department

Sub-committee of the Provisional LCC appointed to confer with a Committee of the Metropolitan Board of Works

Special Committee on the provision of New Offices

Officers (Education) Superannuation Committee

Conference on Open Spaces for recreational purposes

Special Committee on the Organisation of the Council's Service

Poor Law Committee

Procedure Committee

Richmond Hill (Preservation of View) Executive Committee

Committee of Inquiry on Sadlers Wells

Special Committee on Staff Appeals

Conference on regulations in connection with Streets and Street traffic

Special Committee on the allocation of the cost of Street Improvements along Tramway Routes

Survey of London (Joint Publishing) Committee

Teacher's Superannuation Committee

Special Committee on Technical Education

Special Committee on Thames Bridges

Joint Committee on Thames Flood Prevention

Special Committee on Traffic

Tramways Committee

Special Joint Sub-committee on the Typhoid Fever Epidemic in Maidstone and the London Water Supply

Special Committee on the Unemployment

Special Committee on the Valuation of Land

Special Committee on the War Estimates

Special Committee on the Works Department

Please note that copies of these minutes and papers are on open access in the Information Area.

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.

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.

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 Executive Committee (1935-1937, 1939-1980), Annual General Meeting papers and reports (1931-1979), papers and correspondence files of the treasurer, honorary secretaries, chairs and vice-chairs (1932-1977), papers of the Hampshire (1964-7) and Northwest (1973-7) Branches, administration papers including publicity material, financial items and correspondence regarding the dissolution of the group, correspondence, printed materials and papers related to various campaigns (1937-1976), weekend conference materials (1948-65) and meetings papers (1943-1979), leaflets of and correspondence with other organisations (1938-1979), newsletters and circulars (1941-1979), issues of Time and Tide (1921-1929) and press cuttings (1920s-1970s), correspondence of the Honorary Secretary (1950-1981)

The archive consists of subject / research files containing press cuttings, letters, extracts from books and reports and other manuscript material relating to the employment of shop workers and other occupations, and occupational health implications. The files were created in the course of Shaw's work for Boots Pure Drug Company, and date mainly from the 1940s-1950s, though some original reference material has earlier dates. Included is material relating to Margaret Bondfield, legislation, working conditions, health, economics and trade unions. Some of the material has a Nottingham focus (e.g. press cuttings) reflecting the position of the Boots Head Office.

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.

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.

Scrapbook of press cuttings on a wide range of issues relating to women's position during and immediately subsequent to the First World War, including employment, venereal disease, women in public life and the activities of the Women's Freedom League. Many of the press cuttings came from a press cuttings agency.

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 relating to lectures held by the Bureau and to the periodical Women's Employment, 1917-1953.

Scrapbook of press cuttings, 1909-1941, concerning the activities of the Women's Employment Publishing Company, including the publications 'The Fingerpost', 'Careers and Vocational Training'.

Scrapbook of press cuttings on women in domestic service, restaurant work, catering, household management, and related fields, 1915-1935.

This scrapbook consists of press cuttings from the regional and specialist press, including many articles written by Cécile Matheson, relating to the Birmingham Women's Settlement and her other social welfare interests and activities.

The archive consists of manuscripts and typescripts of books and articles written by Amelia Scott including:

• Periodicals relating to the women's suffrage campaign and other women's issues - inc. Family Welfare Association (Passing of a Great Dread was serialised in three volumes of this periodical), 4 volumes Liberal Woman's Review.

Pamphlets and Ephemera - inc. National Union of Women Workers, inc Soldiers' Central Laundry and photographs thereof, National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, National Council of Women, Woman's Leader and Common Cause

• Minute books - Committee meetings of Working Girls Club (including reports of the Leisure Hour Club), Christian Social Union, and Christian Social Crusade.

• Speeches - for election campaigns, on women's suffrage

• Papers relating to her work in Tunbridge Wells including material relating standing for election in Tunbridge Wells and election as a guardian for Tonbridge Union, and papers concerning a number of welfare projects she was involved in including the establishment of a Maternity Home and various housing projects.

• Personal and family papers including publications belonging to Amelia Scott, inc. her father's will, general papers and family photographs.

• Correspondence - approximately 150 letters to Amelia Scott; including photocopies of some originals from well-known individuals which were auctioned for charity, correspondents include Eleanor Rathbone and Beatrice Webb. Also letters to Amelia's sister Louise.

• Objects consist of a decoration and presentation book concerning her work during the First World War and the assisting of Belgian refugees and a bag with Kentish Pilgrims Way and red, white and green ribbons sewn on.

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.

Records of the London County Council Public Control Department relating to Shops and Markets, 1886-1965, including papers on the catering trade; sale of fireworks; mock auctions; analysis of statistics of shops and stalls in the county of London; effect of the First and Second World Wars on shops; Consumer Rationing Order, 1941; sale of contraceptives from automatic machines; the Shops Act, 1912 and 1913; Shops (Early Closing) Acts, 1920 and 1921; Shops (Hours of Closing) Act, 1928; Shops Act, 1950; Government Investigation into hours and conditions of Employment in shops and Select Committee on Shop Assistants; Shops (Sunday Trading Restriction) Act, 1936; Fabrics (Misdescription) Act, 1913; Departmental Committee on Hours of Employment of Young Persons in unregulated occupations; Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1938; Covent Garden Market; Billingsgate Fish Market; Deptford Cattle Market; Whitechapel Hay Market; street trading; register of shops for Sunday Trading and examples of posters for public display giving notice of orders, regulations, and so on.

Reports, including Select Committee on Shop Hours Regulation Bill Report, 1886; Select Committee on Shop Hours Bill Report and Special Report, 1892; Departmental Committee on the Shops (Early Closing) Acts 1920 and 1921 Report and Evidence, 1927; Departmental Committee on the Wholesale Food Markets of London Reports, 1920-1921.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Political papers of Stanley Orme, 1974-2004, comprise papers relating to his work as a government minister in the Northern Ireland Office and subsequently the Department for Health and Social Security (1974-1979), Labour Party Opposition Spokesman on Trade and Industry (1979-1983), Energy (1983-1987), and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party (1987-1992). Papers from Orme's period in the Northern Ireland Office are related mainly to his work on industrial democracy in Harland and Wolff shipyard, and also contains reports of visits to USA to meet politicians to discuss Northern Ireland politics. Section 2 contains many articles and speeches by Orme relating to health and social security. Section 3 consists mainly in correspondence, and includes discussions of industrial policy and unemployment. Orme's role as Opposition Spokesman on Energy has been divided into two sections. Section 4 covers the general policy area of energy, dealing with such issues as fuel poverty, nuclear power, and industrial relations in the energy sector, whilst Section 5 is devoted to the significant amount of material relating to the 1984-1985 miners' strike. Section 6 contains material from Orme's Chairmanship of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and Section 7 contains articles and speeches written throughout Orme's career.

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.

This archive consists of minutes of board meetings (1947-1973), reports and conference resolutions (1929-1966), conference papers (1952-1957), constitutions and charters (1929-1970), correspondence files of president and honorary secretary (1947-1974); incomplete series of the publication Open Door (1929-1938), circular letters (1949-1959), leaflets and pamphlets (1929-1964), headed stationery, reports and publications of other organisations including United Nations commissions and International Labour Organisation. Most of the papers originate from the organisation's Honorary Secretaries.

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.

Letter from A Offley, c 1790. No address. To Mrs Walker. Supplies a character reference for a servant, Mrs Stent, who had among her recommendations that she 'stayd with ye dificall lady Manchester [Elizabeth Montagu, Duchess of Manchester] longer than most of her sarvents do but as to her [Mrs Stent's] temper it is warm and pashonat and she cant allways commande it ...'.

Autograph, with signature.