Susan Snell, the Archivist and Records Manager at the Library and Museum of Freemasonry recently presented details of their collections to the Australian and New Zealand Library and Archives Group. While the presentation focused on Freemasons and Freemasonry in Australia and New Zealand the Library and Museum contain material of interest to researchers of any part of the Empire, as settlers and colonists established local lodges and maintained contact with the United Grand Lodge of England. The spread of Freemasonry has been associated with the expansion of the British empire. One recent book discussing this is Jessica Harland-Jacobs' Builders of empire : Freemasons and British imperialism, 1717-1927, published in 2007. The records of Lodges provide evidence for social networks of individuals both within England and the Empire. Useful online sources include Lane's Masonic Records of England and Wales, and Draffen's Scottish Masonic Records. The London Freemasonry magazine is currently being digitised and included a regular "colonial" column.
Freemasons came from mixed social backgrounds in all parts of the Empire. Lodge members were involved as individuals and collectively in a range of charitable activities, including supporting hospitals and medical research, and theatres.
The Library and Museum is the repository for the archives of the United Grand Lodge of England and contains one of the finest collections of Masonic material in the world. It is open to the public, Monday to Friday, free of charge. Resources at the Library and Museum of Freemasonry include an online catalogue, lodge histories and files, membership registers, annual returns, photographs, historical correspondence and letter books. Staff at the Library and Museum can also help identify objects and regalia (some of which may belong to other organisations such as allied Masonic lodges, friendly societies and related women's organisations)
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Friday, 25 June 2010
Nelson Mandela in the Archives
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library and Archives contains strong collections relating to the struggle within, and outside of, South Africa against the apartheid system. Today's post highlights some items relating to Nelson Mandela.
The Nelson Mandela Trials collection consists of photocopies of papers collected by Joel Joffe, lawyer acting for Nelson Mandela, relating to Mandela's trial in Pretoria (1962) and the Rivonia Trial (1963-1964); including Mandela's application to have the Pretoria trial postponed; Mandela's address to the court in mitigation of the sentence of five years imprisonment, detailing his political commitment and activities in the African National Congress (ANC); a copy of the indictment in the Rivonia Trial, the initial statement made by Mandela to his lawyers, giving details of his early life; notes by Mandela on his life and ANC association; a copy of Mandela's statement from the dock, signed by Mandela, manuscript notes by Mandela to use if he were sentenced to death, and manuscript notes by Mandela referring to the tribal council called Imbizo.
Mary Benson was born on 8 December 1919 in Pretoria, South Africa. In 1950 she became secretary to Michael Scott and first became involved in the field of race relations. In 1951 she became secretary to Tshekedi Khama, and in 1952, together with Scott and David Astor, she helped to found the Africa Bureau in London. She was its secretary until 1957 and travelled widely on its behalf. In 1957 she became secretary to the Treason Trials Defence Fund in Johannesburg. She became a close friend of Nelson Mandela, and assisted with smuggling him out of South Africa in 1962. In February 1966 she was served with a banning order under the Suppression of Communism Act and she left South Africa for London later that year. In London she continued to work tirelessly against apartheid, writing to newspapers and corresponding with fellow activists in South Africa. In April 1999 Mandela visited her at her home during his state visit to Britain and later that year an 80th birthday party was staged for her at South Africa House. Mary Benson died on 20 June 2000. Among her writings are 'South Africa: the Struggle for a Birthright', 'Chief Albert Luthuli', 'The History of Robben Island', 'Nelson Mandela: the Man and the Movement', the autobiographical 'A Far Cry' and radio plays on Mandela and the Rivonia trial. Material within the papers of Mary Benson include newspaper cuttings, correspondence, notes, and articles on Nelson Mandela and other prisoners on Robben Island, and material gathered by Mary Benson for her biography of Nelson Mandela. The collection also includes correspondence with Winnie Mandela and some photographs of Nelson Mandela from his visits in London.
Ruth First was born on 4 May 1925 in Johannesburg, the daughter of Julius and Matilda ('Tilly') First. On her graduation in 1945, First took a job in the Research Division of the Department of Social Welfare of Johannesburg City Council, but she resigned in 1946 in order to pursue a career in journalism. In the same year she produced pamphlets in aid of the miners' strike and was temporarily secretary of the Johannesburg offices of the South African Communist Party. In 1947, together with Michael Scott, she exposed a farm labour scandal in Bethal, Eastern Transvaal. Between 1946-1952 she was the Johannesburg editor of the weekly newspaper the Guardian, the mouthpiece of the SACP, and following subsequent bannings, the Clarion, People's World, Advance, New Age and Spark. Between 1954-1963 she was also the editor of Fighting Talk, a Johannesburg based monthly. In 1949 Ruth First married Joe Slovo. In 1950, First was named under the Suppression of Communism Act and her movements restricted. In 1953 she was banned from membership of all political organisations, although in 1955 she helped draw up the Freedom Charter, a fundamental document of the African National Congress, and was later a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing. In December 1956, she and Joe Slovo were among the 156 people charged in the so-called Treason Trial, although her indictment was dismissed in April 1959. In August 1963 she was arrested and detained under the 90-Day Law for a total period of 117 days. Effectively forced into exile, in March 1964 she left South Africa for the United Kingdom, accompanied by her three daughters. From 1964 she worked full-time as a freelance writer, before becoming a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester in 1972. Between 1973-1978 she lectured in development studies at the University of Durham, although she spent periods of secondment at universities in Dar es Salaam and Lourenco Marques (Maputo). In November 1978 she took up a post as Director of the research training programme at the University Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo. Ruth First was killed on 17 August 1982, when she opened a parcel bomb addressed to her at the above university. Among other publications Ruth First wrote the foreword for and edited Nelson Mandela's autobiography, No Easy Walk to Freedom. The Ruth First papers, include background material for the book, correspondence re publication and between First and President Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria, in French, a number of draft sections, as well as a file of reviews after publication.
The CIIR collection includes material related to the Release Mandela Campaign, transcripts of an interview with Winnie Mandela, and copies of speeches and articles by Mandela.
The Library collection also includes a large number of published work relating to Nelson Mandela and authored by him.
The Nelson Mandela Trials collection consists of photocopies of papers collected by Joel Joffe, lawyer acting for Nelson Mandela, relating to Mandela's trial in Pretoria (1962) and the Rivonia Trial (1963-1964); including Mandela's application to have the Pretoria trial postponed; Mandela's address to the court in mitigation of the sentence of five years imprisonment, detailing his political commitment and activities in the African National Congress (ANC); a copy of the indictment in the Rivonia Trial, the initial statement made by Mandela to his lawyers, giving details of his early life; notes by Mandela on his life and ANC association; a copy of Mandela's statement from the dock, signed by Mandela, manuscript notes by Mandela to use if he were sentenced to death, and manuscript notes by Mandela referring to the tribal council called Imbizo.
Mary Benson was born on 8 December 1919 in Pretoria, South Africa. In 1950 she became secretary to Michael Scott and first became involved in the field of race relations. In 1951 she became secretary to Tshekedi Khama, and in 1952, together with Scott and David Astor, she helped to found the Africa Bureau in London. She was its secretary until 1957 and travelled widely on its behalf. In 1957 she became secretary to the Treason Trials Defence Fund in Johannesburg. She became a close friend of Nelson Mandela, and assisted with smuggling him out of South Africa in 1962. In February 1966 she was served with a banning order under the Suppression of Communism Act and she left South Africa for London later that year. In London she continued to work tirelessly against apartheid, writing to newspapers and corresponding with fellow activists in South Africa. In April 1999 Mandela visited her at her home during his state visit to Britain and later that year an 80th birthday party was staged for her at South Africa House. Mary Benson died on 20 June 2000. Among her writings are 'South Africa: the Struggle for a Birthright', 'Chief Albert Luthuli', 'The History of Robben Island', 'Nelson Mandela: the Man and the Movement', the autobiographical 'A Far Cry' and radio plays on Mandela and the Rivonia trial. Material within the papers of Mary Benson include newspaper cuttings, correspondence, notes, and articles on Nelson Mandela and other prisoners on Robben Island, and material gathered by Mary Benson for her biography of Nelson Mandela. The collection also includes correspondence with Winnie Mandela and some photographs of Nelson Mandela from his visits in London.
Ruth First was born on 4 May 1925 in Johannesburg, the daughter of Julius and Matilda ('Tilly') First. On her graduation in 1945, First took a job in the Research Division of the Department of Social Welfare of Johannesburg City Council, but she resigned in 1946 in order to pursue a career in journalism. In the same year she produced pamphlets in aid of the miners' strike and was temporarily secretary of the Johannesburg offices of the South African Communist Party. In 1947, together with Michael Scott, she exposed a farm labour scandal in Bethal, Eastern Transvaal. Between 1946-1952 she was the Johannesburg editor of the weekly newspaper the Guardian, the mouthpiece of the SACP, and following subsequent bannings, the Clarion, People's World, Advance, New Age and Spark. Between 1954-1963 she was also the editor of Fighting Talk, a Johannesburg based monthly. In 1949 Ruth First married Joe Slovo. In 1950, First was named under the Suppression of Communism Act and her movements restricted. In 1953 she was banned from membership of all political organisations, although in 1955 she helped draw up the Freedom Charter, a fundamental document of the African National Congress, and was later a member of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC's military wing. In December 1956, she and Joe Slovo were among the 156 people charged in the so-called Treason Trial, although her indictment was dismissed in April 1959. In August 1963 she was arrested and detained under the 90-Day Law for a total period of 117 days. Effectively forced into exile, in March 1964 she left South Africa for the United Kingdom, accompanied by her three daughters. From 1964 she worked full-time as a freelance writer, before becoming a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester in 1972. Between 1973-1978 she lectured in development studies at the University of Durham, although she spent periods of secondment at universities in Dar es Salaam and Lourenco Marques (Maputo). In November 1978 she took up a post as Director of the research training programme at the University Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo. Ruth First was killed on 17 August 1982, when she opened a parcel bomb addressed to her at the above university. Among other publications Ruth First wrote the foreword for and edited Nelson Mandela's autobiography, No Easy Walk to Freedom. The Ruth First papers, include background material for the book, correspondence re publication and between First and President Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria, in French, a number of draft sections, as well as a file of reviews after publication.
The CIIR collection includes material related to the Release Mandela Campaign, transcripts of an interview with Winnie Mandela, and copies of speeches and articles by Mandela.
The Library collection also includes a large number of published work relating to Nelson Mandela and authored by him.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Wireless available in Commonwealth Studies Library
We are pleased to announce that after installation and testing we're publically announcing the availability of wireless internet access in the Small Hall and Commonwealth Studies Library.
Instructions for accessing wireless are available from the Enquiry Desk in the Small Hall. We also have available cables to connect to data points in areas throughout the library.
Recent visitors to the library may have noticed that we are now also hosting the Senate House Library Religion collections, which have been moved due to ongoing refurbishment area and are now in NG14. Senate House Library History users should be aware that the History collection has also moved, from the 3rd floor North Block, to the 7th Floor of the South Block.
Instructions for accessing wireless are available from the Enquiry Desk in the Small Hall. We also have available cables to connect to data points in areas throughout the library.
Recent visitors to the library may have noticed that we are now also hosting the Senate House Library Religion collections, which have been moved due to ongoing refurbishment area and are now in NG14. Senate House Library History users should be aware that the History collection has also moved, from the 3rd floor North Block, to the 7th Floor of the South Block.
Monday, 14 June 2010
New archives catalogue available in PDF format - Colin Legum
As part of our rolling project to add PDF attachments of existing finding aids to the online archives catalogue we're pleased to announce that we have drawn together a number of lists for the Colin Legum collection.
Colin Legum was born in 1919. In 1934 Colin Legum began working at the Sunday Express in Johannesburg. Later he became the newspaper's political correspondent. He joined the South African Labour Party and, in 1942, was elected to the Johannesburg City Council. From the mid-1950s to the mid 1980s he reported on foreign affairs for the UK's Observer. In 1960 he married Margaret Jean Roberts. In 1964 Colin and Margaret Legum published South Africa: Crisis for the West, in which they argued for economic sanctions against the South African government to bring an end to apartheid. In 1968 Colin Legum became editor of the annual Africa Contemporary Record. Legum was the author of over 20 books including Pan-Africanism: A Brief History (1962), and Africa: A Handbook of the Continent (1962).
In 1991, the Legums returned to South Africa from Great Britain. In 1999 Colin Legum authored and published Africa Since Independence.
Colin Legum died on 8 July 2003, aged 84. He was survived by his wife (who died in 2007), three daughters and grandchildren.
The collection of papers held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library comprises of papers acquired by Colin Legum on Cyprus, Aden, Malta, and Commonwealth matters, 1950-1977, and include research material, newspaper clippings, articles, notes and correspondence covering the three countries listed as well as Commonwealth discussions on Rhodesia. The material covers an important period in the history of decolonisation. A complete list of material held in this collection, can now be found attached within the ULRLS archives catalogue entry for this collection.
The bulk of Colin Legum's papers were later donated to and are available at Edinburgh University Library.
Colin Legum was born in 1919. In 1934 Colin Legum began working at the Sunday Express in Johannesburg. Later he became the newspaper's political correspondent. He joined the South African Labour Party and, in 1942, was elected to the Johannesburg City Council. From the mid-1950s to the mid 1980s he reported on foreign affairs for the UK's Observer. In 1960 he married Margaret Jean Roberts. In 1964 Colin and Margaret Legum published South Africa: Crisis for the West, in which they argued for economic sanctions against the South African government to bring an end to apartheid. In 1968 Colin Legum became editor of the annual Africa Contemporary Record. Legum was the author of over 20 books including Pan-Africanism: A Brief History (1962), and Africa: A Handbook of the Continent (1962).
In 1991, the Legums returned to South Africa from Great Britain. In 1999 Colin Legum authored and published Africa Since Independence.
Colin Legum died on 8 July 2003, aged 84. He was survived by his wife (who died in 2007), three daughters and grandchildren.
The collection of papers held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library comprises of papers acquired by Colin Legum on Cyprus, Aden, Malta, and Commonwealth matters, 1950-1977, and include research material, newspaper clippings, articles, notes and correspondence covering the three countries listed as well as Commonwealth discussions on Rhodesia. The material covers an important period in the history of decolonisation. A complete list of material held in this collection, can now be found attached within the ULRLS archives catalogue entry for this collection.
The bulk of Colin Legum's papers were later donated to and are available at Edinburgh University Library.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Call for Papers: Peace and (In)Security: Canada's promise, Canada's problem
PEACE AND (IN)SECURITY: CANADA'S PROMISE, CANADA'S PROBLEM?
BACS 36th Annual Conference
The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
4-6 April 2011
CALL FOR PAPERS
The British Association for Canadian Studies (BACS) is pleased to announce that their 36th annual conference will take place on 4-6 April 2011 at the University of Birmingham. Founded in 1900, the 'Redbrick' university is located within the United Kingdom's second largest and most diverse city. Reflecting one of the explicit priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Government of Canada), the conference aims to interrogate the historical legacies, contemporary realities and cultural myths of the 'peaceable kingdom'. What constitutes peace in the context of economic instability and political insecurity? Which discourses, images and texts circulate in a time of environmental crisis and social anxiety? How do the actions, events and conflicts of the Canadian past inflect the policies, politics and imaginings of future security?
The British Association for Canadian Studies invites paper proposals related to notions of peace and (in)security pertaining across, within and beyond the field of Canadian Studies. Proposals for 20-minute papers, to be presented in either English or French, are invited from any single disciplinary or multidisciplinary perspective. Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and comparative panel proposals, including those from postgraduate students, are welcome.
Paper proposals will be especially appreciated in the following areas:
• identities and insecurities
• surveillance and security: histories, institutions, discourses, practices
• cultures of dissent: texts, policies, movements, communities
• internal or external threats, conflicts, and instabilities
• histories, visions and narratives of peace
• geographies, representations and economies of (in)security
Enquiries and proposals to:
Jodie Robson, BACS Administrator
Email: canstuds@gmail.com
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/bacsconference2011/
Proposals (panel and individual) and deadline:
Email abstract(s) of 200-300 words and brief CV (please do not exceed one side of A4) which must include your title, institutional affiliation, email and mailing address by 20 November 2010. Submissions will be acknowledged by email. Postgraduate students are especially welcome to submit a proposal and there will be a concessionary conference fee for students. BACS regrets that it is unable to assist participants with travel and accommodation costs.
BACS 36th Annual Conference
The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
4-6 April 2011
CALL FOR PAPERS
The British Association for Canadian Studies (BACS) is pleased to announce that their 36th annual conference will take place on 4-6 April 2011 at the University of Birmingham. Founded in 1900, the 'Redbrick' university is located within the United Kingdom's second largest and most diverse city. Reflecting one of the explicit priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Government of Canada), the conference aims to interrogate the historical legacies, contemporary realities and cultural myths of the 'peaceable kingdom'. What constitutes peace in the context of economic instability and political insecurity? Which discourses, images and texts circulate in a time of environmental crisis and social anxiety? How do the actions, events and conflicts of the Canadian past inflect the policies, politics and imaginings of future security?
The British Association for Canadian Studies invites paper proposals related to notions of peace and (in)security pertaining across, within and beyond the field of Canadian Studies. Proposals for 20-minute papers, to be presented in either English or French, are invited from any single disciplinary or multidisciplinary perspective. Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and comparative panel proposals, including those from postgraduate students, are welcome.
Paper proposals will be especially appreciated in the following areas:
• identities and insecurities
• surveillance and security: histories, institutions, discourses, practices
• cultures of dissent: texts, policies, movements, communities
• internal or external threats, conflicts, and instabilities
• histories, visions and narratives of peace
• geographies, representations and economies of (in)security
Enquiries and proposals to:
Jodie Robson, BACS Administrator
Email: canstuds@gmail.com
Website: http://sites.google.com/site/bacsconference2011/
Proposals (panel and individual) and deadline:
Email abstract(s) of 200-300 words and brief CV (please do not exceed one side of A4) which must include your title, institutional affiliation, email and mailing address by 20 November 2010. Submissions will be acknowledged by email. Postgraduate students are especially welcome to submit a proposal and there will be a concessionary conference fee for students. BACS regrets that it is unable to assist participants with travel and accommodation costs.
Competition Policy: serving the public interest?
Announcing a one-day conference: speaker sessions and roundtable discussion on:
Competition Policy: serving the public interest?
Venue: Canada House, Trafalgar Sq., London
21 June 2010 (10am for 10.30)
Keynote speaker: Professor John Bridgeman CBE (Formerly Director General of Fair Trading, MD Alcan)
Contributions from:
Bert Foer : President, American Antitrust Institute
Professor John Kay : London Business School/Director: Institute for Fiscal Studies/London Economics
Professor Alan Riley : City University Law School/ Res Publica
Dr Paul Gorecki : Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin (formerly with Economic Council of Canada)
James Lowman : Association of Convenience Stores
Barry Lynn: New America Foundation
Michael Hallsworth: Institute for Government, London
Courtesy of kind support of the Federal Government of Canada, cost per delegate is held at £100 ea (to include buffet lunch). However, seating capacity is strictly limited
Please email Professor Alan Hallsworth
to reserve your place and for updates, additional speakers etc.
Please put COMPETITION EVENT in the subject line
Purpose of the day
In addressing rising concerns about the environment, sustainability and resource depletion, analysts turn increasingly to behavioural economics for interpretations of the human factor. Critics argue, fairly or otherwise, that Competition Policy, conversely, remains dependent upon Chicago-School visions of market competition. Some who accept the broad sphere of rational choice nevertheless argue that there should at least be US-style routes to contesting the power of market-dominant firms. Others question the metrics and the evidence base that underpin specific decisions about the competitiveness of markets. It can also be argued that any wider vision of a public interest (dropped from Competition policy by the 2002 Enterprise Act) has been reduced to consumer interest.
Who, then, is best placed to define or defend the consumer interest?
Leading speakers will offer a range of perspectives on these topics. Following a networking lunch, the afternoon will include a roundtable session to extend the debate more widely.
The event seeks to appeal to all who have an interest in how consumer markets are, could, or should be regulated.
Supported by LoCSA and the BACS Business group
Competition Policy: serving the public interest?
Venue: Canada House, Trafalgar Sq., London
21 June 2010 (10am for 10.30)
Keynote speaker: Professor John Bridgeman CBE (Formerly Director General of Fair Trading, MD Alcan)
Contributions from:
Bert Foer : President, American Antitrust Institute
Professor John Kay : London Business School/Director: Institute for Fiscal Studies/London Economics
Professor Alan Riley : City University Law School/ Res Publica
Dr Paul Gorecki : Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin (formerly with Economic Council of Canada)
James Lowman : Association of Convenience Stores
Barry Lynn: New America Foundation
Michael Hallsworth: Institute for Government, London
Courtesy of kind support of the Federal Government of Canada, cost per delegate is held at £100 ea (to include buffet lunch). However, seating capacity is strictly limited
Please email Professor Alan Hallsworth
to reserve your place and for updates, additional speakers etc.
Please put COMPETITION EVENT in the subject line
Purpose of the day
In addressing rising concerns about the environment, sustainability and resource depletion, analysts turn increasingly to behavioural economics for interpretations of the human factor. Critics argue, fairly or otherwise, that Competition Policy, conversely, remains dependent upon Chicago-School visions of market competition. Some who accept the broad sphere of rational choice nevertheless argue that there should at least be US-style routes to contesting the power of market-dominant firms. Others question the metrics and the evidence base that underpin specific decisions about the competitiveness of markets. It can also be argued that any wider vision of a public interest (dropped from Competition policy by the 2002 Enterprise Act) has been reduced to consumer interest.
Who, then, is best placed to define or defend the consumer interest?
Leading speakers will offer a range of perspectives on these topics. Following a networking lunch, the afternoon will include a roundtable session to extend the debate more widely.
The event seeks to appeal to all who have an interest in how consumer markets are, could, or should be regulated.
Supported by LoCSA and the BACS Business group
In Search of the Sources: Canadian Legal History in British Collections
In Search of the Sources: Canadian Legal History in British Collections
Canada House, London, 24th June 2010, 14:00 - 17:00
The historical development of Canada, from colonies to nation, means that many of its most important early historical sources reside in British repositories. An examination, or in some cases a re-examination, of these materials is essential to a proper understanding of the Canadian past. It is evident, however, that in many important areas, Canadian writers have not had access to, or known of, these essential source materials, scattered as they are across the collections of a number of institutions of which the relevance is not always obvious. The seminar will bring together archivists and researchers to identify and explore these hidden sources, to evaluate how they relate to each other, their uses in research, and the methodological issues arising from their use. It aims to promote and enhance the use of Canadian sources of legal history in British Collections and to build links between interested archivists and researchers.
PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE:
The Bentham Project, the British Library, the National Archives, the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Library, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library
For further information or to register please contact
Dr. Charlotte Smith at c.l.smith@rdg.ac.uk
Canada House, London, 24th June 2010, 14:00 - 17:00
The historical development of Canada, from colonies to nation, means that many of its most important early historical sources reside in British repositories. An examination, or in some cases a re-examination, of these materials is essential to a proper understanding of the Canadian past. It is evident, however, that in many important areas, Canadian writers have not had access to, or known of, these essential source materials, scattered as they are across the collections of a number of institutions of which the relevance is not always obvious. The seminar will bring together archivists and researchers to identify and explore these hidden sources, to evaluate how they relate to each other, their uses in research, and the methodological issues arising from their use. It aims to promote and enhance the use of Canadian sources of legal history in British Collections and to build links between interested archivists and researchers.
PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE:
The Bentham Project, the British Library, the National Archives, the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Library, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library
For further information or to register please contact
Dr. Charlotte Smith at c.l.smith@rdg.ac.uk
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