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You are here: Home / Professional Service Departments / Information Systems and Services / Library Services / TUC Library Collections / Survey of Collections on Transfer to London Metropolitan University (1996)

Survey of Collections on Transfer to London Metropolitan University (1996)

MAIN COLLECTION

This brief survey looks at the collections in Library of Congress classified order, drawing attention to particularly important historical or research resources. Books, pamphlets and periodicals are not considered separately, although many of the books have additional value as they are signed/presentation copies, or early editions. In the main library, the book collection (6255 volumes) occupies 168 metres of shelving, and the 4973 pamphlet/periodical boxes occupy 973 metres. In the basement store, 113 books occupy 4 metres, and 776 boxes occupy 78 metres.

B ~ philosophy, psychology, religion

Small collection, mainly related to impact of the churches on the labour movement. Most recent material relates to use of psychometrics in recruitment.

CT ~ biography

Good collection of biographical information on labour movement figures.

D-F ~ history

Wide range of documents collected on individual countries - particularly strong on Europe, Africa and other ex-colonial territories. Important (rare?) collections from Germany 1918- , Russia 1915- (inc. material from the Anglo-Russian Parliamentary Committee), the Spanish Civil War, Boer War, Hungary in 1950s. Large collection of pamphlets and official documents from World Wars 1 & 2.

Includes historical material on trade union support for workers' sports, international workers Olympics, etc. Recent material mainly on sea pollution and the tourist industry.

HA-HB ~ statistics, economic theory

Census reports from 1891- .Most of economic theory collection is pre-1980. Recent material includes statistical and pamphlet series from academic bodies.

HC ~ economic conditions by country; also covers developing countries, European Union, and regional development in UK

Mix of older and recent material. Russian pamphlets from 1915 (inc. 1921 famine). Important research collection on the post-war European Recovery Programme, Marshall Plan, etc. Economic journals are mainly classified here.

Mainly older material including important collections on TUC involvement in productivity campaigns in the 1950s(inc. European Productivity Agency, Anglo-American Council on Productivity), land schemes for the unemployed, and agricultural workers.

HD 2321-4730.9 ~ industry

Includes historical material on sweated industries, the co-operative movement, and large collections (both older and recent ) on industrial policy, public ownership, public utilities. Factory Inspectorate reports from 1875-.

HD 4791-5267 ~work, employment policy, working conditions (inc. wages, hours)

Mix of older and recent material (eg collection of Incomes Data Services publications). International Labour Organisation deposited collection dates back to 1918. 'Time rates of wages' from 1895. Several boxes of minutes and documents from the Trade Boards Advisory Committee.

HD 5306-5660 ~ disputes, industrial relations, industrial democracy

Important collection, a mix of older and recent material. Board of Trade reports on Strikes from 1889- . TUC 1922 questionnaire on collective bargaining replies and other material. Industrial Court and IT awards from 1919. Unique collection on the General Strike 1926, and other historical material tracing the development of collective bargaining. Book collection includes important standard works.

Includes historical material on unemployment relief (employment exchanges, labour camps, etc.); TUC, National Unemployed Workers Movement and other campaigns from the 1930s. It also includes a collection of material from TUC Unemployed Workers Centres, and modern material on manpower policy, unemployment, and migrant workers.

HD 6050-6305 ~ classes of workers (women, children, older)

Includes important historical material relating to women at work and in trade unions, eg records of the Women's Trade Union League, National Federation of Women Workers, etc. Childrens Employment Commission 1862.

HD 6350-6351 ~ trade unions - international

Publications from and about international trade unions from c. 1913 - IFTU, WFTU, ICFTU, WCL and their trade secretariats, plus papers from the Red International and the National Minority Movement.

HD 6451-6497 ~ trade unions - law and organisation

Includes standard texts and statutes from 1871 plus detailed files on the Taff Vale case and the Osborne Judgment.

Mix of historical and modern material by country. American Federation of Labor material 1906-, Canadian Labour Congress material 1905-. Pan-European material mainly from 1980s onwards.

HD 6661-6669 ~ TUC and UK trade unions

Incomplete collection of TUC publications. Publications from and about individual unions, and the Scottish and Irish TUCs. Collection of trade union histories and standard texts. 18 boxes of material relating to the Tolpuddle Martyrs. TUC 1923 questionnaire on organisation. Material from employers associations eg Confederation of British Industry.

HD 6670-6940.7 ~ trade unions - various countries

Publications from individual unions and centres as well as descriptive works. Large collection from France. Important research collection on TUC involvement in post-war union reconstruction in Germany. Historical collections from Commonwealth countries and South Africa.

Mainly post 1910 historical material, comprising policy documents, reports, pressure group publications and material relating to TUC campaigns in these areas Collections of National Board for Prices & Incomes publications and material relating to trade union approved societies.

HD 7791-8942 ~ labour law, labour and the state, labour situation by country

Historical material in all these areas- notable collections on May Day, war-time labour, statistical series, workers compensation. Royal Commission on Labour 1892-94 and 'Labour Gazette' 1896- .

HD 9000-9999 ~ special industries and trades

Most important historical collections are probably on labour in the coal, engineering, motor industries, but rare material throughout.

HE ~ transport & communications

Large amount of both older and more recent official and campaign material. Important historical collections relating to dock and railway workers.

HF-HJ ~ commerce, financial services, public finance

Probably not much of historical value here, except in pockets, eg early material on shop assistants conditions, and free trade. 8 boxes of Barbara Wootton's papers from the 1924-27 Committee on National Debt & Taxation, and long runs of some official series eg Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies reports 1892- .

Items of historical value include social reform texts, temperance movement literature and material on the Poor Law.

HX ~ socialism, communism

Most of this material is important historically. Includes publications from the Communist Party of Gt Britain and international communist movements.

J ~ political science, civil service, local government, colonies, international law

Collections of civil service trade union material and trades councils publications similar to HD 6661 above. Large collection of Labour Party publications from foundation, plus early material from other political campaigns and parties. Material from the constitutional history of various countries, and a large (possibly rare) collection on early peace and disarmament campaigns.

Apart from a few items, there is little of special importance.

L ~ education

Important collections on the NCLC and other workers/trade union education. Material on the development of technical/vocational education and public education in general is also of interest.

M-P ~ music, arts, press

Collection of labour/socialist songsheets, material on National Museum of Labour History and trade union iconography. Daily Herald.

Q-T ~ science, medicine, technology

Attitudes to atomic power, early material on the social causes of ill health, the campaign for the NHS, scientific management techniques from the 1920s, and debates around automation in the 1950-60s are all important areas.

Files on conscientious objectors, and labour issues in aircraft production are important. Information on related archives and libraries are kept here.

unclassified ~ periodicals (inc. many older titles eg 'Workers Dreadnought', 'Labour Prophet', 'Sunday Worker' etc), Times Index 1918-1974, special archive files on specific campaigns/events e.g. Peoples March, Miners Strike, TUC Centenary, Industrial Relations Bill. There is also a collection of NEDO publications, and material collected by the Trade Union Coordinating Committee during 1995 political fund ballot campaign.

Gertrude Tuckwell Collection ~ 2 filing cabinets of cuttings, pamphlets and documents relating to women's trade unionism and welfare 1900-1925.

Microfilm Collection ~ Press cuttings c. 1911 - 1974

South East Region TUC ~ 1 filing cabinet of files on the establishment of unemployed workers centres in the region. Unsorted, unindexed.

South East Region TUC ~ 1 filing drawer of files re Miners Strike 1984-5

Library catalogue.

Trade union history data file

Biographical data file.

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Page last updated : : 08 Mar 2004