WCML ebulletin with news from the Library and elsewhere.
LGBT History Month
Saturday 6 February 2pm
Helen Smith, University of Lincoln - with readings by Mike Joyce
It’s Queer Up North? Working Class Men and Same-Sex Desire in the North of England
In this talk, Helen will be delving into the lives and loves of working class men in the north throughout the twentieth century. Throughout her research she has uncovered many stories that had been lost and because of this, gives an alternative history of same-sex desire.
Mike Joyce, ex-Smiths drummer, has more recently been developing his acting and reading career - not least by kindly appearing in Library fundraisers!
Admission free; light refreshments afterwards.
International Women’s Day
Saturday 5 March 2pm
Catriona Burness
Remembering Mary Barbour - social reformer, rent strike leader, women's peace crusader and pioneering woman councillor
Mary Barbour worked tirelessly to change laws to help families in poverty. Her capacity to mobilise working class families, especially women, to challenge the power of landlords and the state during the 1915 Govan rent strike led to the passing of one of Europe’s first rent restriction acts. She also fought for free school milk, children’s playgrounds, municipal wash-houses, and an end to slum housing.
This event will also feature a discussion on current related issues. Admission free; light refreshments afterwards.
This forms part of the Wonder Women series of events in Manchester and area.
To End All Wars
An exhibition marking the centenary of the introduction of conscription in early 1916.
The north-west had a vigorous anti-war movement from 1914 onwards. This exhibition looks at some of those involved, both men and women, who fought for peace. Bill Chadwick from Westhoughton and Hugh Hutchinson from Bolton, whose stories were previously known only to their families, can now take their place amongst more famous names. Documents from the Hyde branch of the No-Conscription Fellowship, a unique collection held by the Library, are also on display. This is an alternative narrative of the war that deserves to be remembered as much as we commemorate those who fought and died.
Exhibition opening times: Wednesdays to Fridays 1-5pm and the first Saturday of the month 10am-4pm. Runs until 1 April. Admission free.
The Library is extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the funding for this project, awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme.
A specially-written 'Living History' performance, No Power on Earth, will accompany the exhibition thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund. This tells the story of James Hindle Hudson, a Salford conscientious objector. The 30-minute free performance can be seen at the Library on Wednesday 2 March at 1pm and Saturday 5 March at 2pm, and at Salford Museum and Art Gallery on Sunday 21 February at 2pm. It will also be put on in Salford schools during February.
Invisible Histories talks
A new series of free Wednesday afternoon talks will begin in March. Full details atwww.wcml.org.uk/events.
2 March 2pm Tom Besford Rapper dance - its creation and what it meant to working communities
16 March 2pm Chloe Mason Justice for Alice Wheeldon!
30 March 2pm Cyril Pearce Communities of resistance: patterns of dissent in Britain during the First World War
13 April 2pm Robin Stocks Manchester volunteers in the Easter Rising
27 April 2pm Richard Milward – Luddites’ Nightmares
Jim Allen retrospective
A Jim Allen retrospective season takes place at Manchester's Home from 9 to 31 January. It includes screenings of The Spongers (with accompanying Q&A with producer Tony Garnett), The Lump, The Big Flame, Raining Stones and Days of Hope. Full details here.
Jim Allen (1926-1999) was a socialist writer of international significance, who made a major contribution to British TV drama in the 1960s and 1970s and to British film in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Library is very pleased to house the Jim Allen archive, which his family have kindly entrusted to us. The archive includes books, videos, scripts (produced and non-produced) and other material. The Library welcomes deposits of new material from anybody who knew or worked with Jim. More information at www.wcml.org.uk/jim-allen.
Call Mr Robeson
If you've not seen Call Mr Robeson, Tayo Aluko's bravura retelling of the activist life of Paul Robeson in words and song - or if you enjoyed so much you'd like to see it again - Tayo is performing it at Bolton Socialist Club on Friday 29 January. More details and ticket enquiries: 07966 136169.
Tayo is also putting on a concert on Saturday 23 January at 7.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House in Liverpool to mark the 40th anniversary of Paul Robeson's death. He will be accompanied by Liverpool Socialist Singers and Birmingham Clarion Singers - details here.