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Collection Releases

A black and white image of workers on strike, holding up posters and marching.

Radical Trade Unionism in Britain, 1921-1991

From its inception in 1920, the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was intimately involved in trade unionism in Britain. From entryism to election rigging, radical education of workers to support for legitimate industrial action, the CPGB took to trade... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 11th October, 2022 1 min read
A black and white image of John Gollan giving a speech into microphones.

Communism in Crisis in Britain and Abroad, 1931-1979

John Gollan (1911-1977) was a political leader and communist activist in Britain during the 20th century. Gollan joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) in 1926 following his involvement in the General Strike of the same year. A close... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 14th September, 2022 1 min read
Front Cover of The Tatler, 1959

The Tatler, 1901-1965

From its establishment in 1901 until 1968, The Tatler was one of various publications owned by The Illustrated London News (ILN). The magazine (founded by literary critic Clement Shorter, a former editor of the ILN) catered primarily to an affluent and traditionalist audience.... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 6th September, 2022 2 min read
A picture of Geraldine Chaplin, Actress, with pink letters that read 'london life'

London Life, 1965-1966

Launched in 1965, London Life was one of several titles owned by The Illustrated London News (ILN). A reincarnation of The Tatler (1901-1965) – which, from its inception, had catered primarily to a wealthy and conservative readership – London Life... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 14th July, 2022 1 min read
A black and white photo of the Friedrich Engels statue in Manchester.

British Communism through Committee Work, 1926-1992

The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) spawned many different committees throughout its turbulent lifetime. This collection contains the papers of numerous different committees established to advise the Executive Committee on party policy and ongoing developments in their respective fields.... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 15th June, 2022 1 min read
The Hospital of Bethlem [Bedlam] at Moorfields, London: seen from the north, with sheep grazing and people walking in the foreground. Coloured wood engraving by W. H. Prior.

Records from Bethlem Royal Hospital, 1559-1932

Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric facility in London. It was established as a priory of the Order of St Mary of Bethlehem in 1247, before beginning to care for mentally ill patients sometime in the 14th century. Often referred... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 8th March, 2022 1 min read
Colour poster by William Little issued in 1941 showing two groups of armed marching soldiers, one from each of the countries allied to fight Germany, Japan, and Italy, facing a giant V for victory composed of the flags of each of the countries allied in the fight.

British Government Information and Propaganda, 1939-2009

Scanned from source at the British Library, this collection contains a carefully curated selection of materials produced by the British Ministry of Information (MOI) and Central Office of Information (COI) during the period 1939-2009. The items are diverse in nature, ranging... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 20th January, 2022 1 min read
Statue of poet Vladimir Mayakovsky in Moscow, Russia.

Communism, Culture and Society in the 20th Century

This collection contains documents compiled by the Communist Party of Great Britain’s (CPGB) National Cultural Committee. The National Cultural Committee (NCC) was established in 1947 and functioned as an advisory panel for the Executive Committee. It aimed to develop policy... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 16th November, 2021 1 min read
The monument to the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky. The statue is of Maxim Gorky sat down holding a walking stick.

Communism and Popular Culture in the 20th Century

Ivor Montagu (1904-1984) was best known for his work as a filmmaker, scriptwriter, and producer. He was also a trained naturalist, the founder of the International Table Tennis Federation, president of the Southampton F.C. Supporters’ Club, and an active member... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 5th October, 2021 1 min read
A crowd of people cheering with their hands in the air.

British Communism in Campaigns and Events, 1947-1991

This collection contains documents relating to discrete campaigns and events organised by the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) during the period 1947-1991. The documents include minutes, correspondence, press releases, posters, and programmes. They provide an insight into the ways in... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 21st April, 2021 1 min read
A photo of the Karl Max monument in Moscow, Russia.

Marxist History and Historians in the 20th Century

Dona Ruth Anne Torr (1883-1957) was a Marxist historian, translator and activist. Despite being born into an aristocratic family, Torr became a founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). She went on to build a reputation not... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 30th March, 2021 1 min read
A photo of the Monument to Yuri Gagarin in Moscow, Russia.

Science and Marxism, 1956-1985

William Wainwright (1908-2000) was a British communist activist and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). During his time in the party, Wainwright briefly served as the secretary of the British Soviet Society and was heavily involved in... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 15th February, 2021 1 min read
A black and white image of Lady Justice statue outside the Old Bailey in London.

Trade Unions in Crisis: the 1961 ETU Ballot-Rigging Scandal

The ETU ballot-rigging trial was a case brought to the High Court by prominent union members John Thomas Byrne and Frank Chapple in 1961. They alleged that members of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) had engaged in "a... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 17th December, 2020 1 min read
A black and white image of a Marx and Engels statue.

Debate and Division on the British Left, 1917-1964

John Thomas (J.T.) Murphy and Molly Murphy (née Morris) were a married couple who were prominent members of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) during its formative years. J.T. was expelled from the party in 1932, while Molly resigned shortly thereafter. This... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 3rd December, 2020 3 min read
A drawing of The Foundery, in Moorfields. The building subsequently served as the first Wesleyan Methodist house of worship, and an important meeting place for the early Methodist community.

The Methodist Recorder, 1861-1919

This collection contains copies of the Methodist Recorder published during the period 1861-1919. Founded in 1861 with the mission 'to tell truth and love', the Methodist Recorder was edited and published by six Wesleyan ministers in London. While the six ministers... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 24th November, 2020 2 min read
A drawing of John Wesley preaching to a group of men.

Methodist Publications, 1855-1919

John Wesley (1703-1791) was an English cleric who lead a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism in the 18th century. After Wesley's death, internal schisms led to a splintering of the original faith. The rival Methodist... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 24th November, 2020 3 min read
An image of the Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd, Russia.

Gender, Feminism, and the British Left, 1944-1991

This collection contains records compiled by the Communist Party of Great Britain's (CPGB) Women's Department during the period 1944-1991. These records include minutes, agendas, and promotional materials from various women's campaigns, events, and conferences. They also include copies of Link, the... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 12th November, 2020 2 min read
A black and white image of a group of women smartly dressed.

Transatlantic Civil Society in Periodicals, 1768-1925

This collection contains a series of American journals, magazines, and trade papers published in the United Kingdom and continental Europe from 1768 to 1925—a period that encompasses everything from the Boston Tea Party to the First World War. The periodicals... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 5th November, 2020 3 min read
An image of Worker and Kolkhoz Woman in Moskva, Russia. Worker and Kolkhoz Woman is a sculpture of two figures with a sickle and a hammer raised over their heads.

Communisms and the Cold War, 1944-1986

This collection contains reports and other records compiled by the Communist Party of Great Britain's (CPGB) International Department between 1944 and 1986—a period which begins immediately after the dissolution of the Communist International (Comintern) and ends shortly before the collapse of... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 2nd July, 2020 3 min read
The Relief of Lucknow, by Thomas Jones Barker. The siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defence of the British Residency within the city of Lucknow from rebel sepoys during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

World News in Indian Newspapers, 1782-1908

Part of our wide-ranging Power and Preachers series, this collection contains copies of three English language newspapers published in India during the period 1782-1908: The India Gazette (1782-1834); The Bengal Hurkaru and Chronicle (1822-1866); and The Bengal Times (1876-1908).These newspapers were primarily sold... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 31st March, 2020 1 min read
A black and white image of French, British and Italian ministers at the Paris Peace Conference.

Paris Peace Conference and Beyond, 1919-1939

The Paris Peace Conference was a meeting of Allied diplomats that took place in the aftermath of the First World War. Its purpose was to impose peace terms on the vanquished Central Powers and establish a new international order.This collection... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 1st October, 2019 2 min read
Individuals during the war, receiving messages on a radio.

Military intelligence files: land, sea and air, 1938-1974

Part of British Online Archives's wide-ranging World Wars series, the resources contained within this collection shed light on the activities and attitudes of British military intelligence agencies during the Second World War and Cold War.The majority of the documents are... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 10th August, 2018 1 min read
A silhouette of the White House, flying a USA flag, on the background of a Union Jack flag.

International relations between America and Britain, 1796-1848

Sir Charles Vaughan (1774-1849) was a career diplomat who served as British Ambassador to the United States during the period 1825-1835. This collection contains Vaughan's personal and professional papers from before, during, and after his time in Washington. The papers shed... Read more →
British Online Archives
Published 1st August, 2018 1 min read

About Collection Releases

British Online Archives provides unique collections of primary source documents for students and researchers studying the Humanities and Social Sciences. You can keep up to date with our latest releases here.

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