Description
Object description
British student and member of Cambridge Student Branch, Communist Party of Great Britain at University of Cambridge in GB, 1934-1935; fiancée of poet and volunteer John Cornford who served with Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) Militia and Commune de Paris Bn, XI International Bde in Spain, Birmingham, GB, 1936-1937
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1913-1931: family; education at King Alfred and Roedean Schools; story illustrating mother's political outlook and attitudes. Aspects of period as student with University of Cambridge in GB, 1931-1934: joining Socialist Society; attending anti-war demonstration in Cambridge, 1933; opinion of Wilf Jobling; receiving hunger marchers from North East England; question of students' backgrounds. Recollections of period as student and member of Cambridge Student Branch, Communist Party of Great Britain at University of Cambridge in GB, 1934-1935: political activities with Socialist Society and Communist Party of Great Britain, 1934-1935; background to meeting John Cornford and joining Communist Party of Great Britain; size of branch membership; memories of John Cornford and his friends.
REEL 2 Continues: campaigning structure of Communist Party of Great Britain at Cambridge University; character of Cambridge Branch, of Communist Party of Great Britain; degree of contact with Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean and Anthony Blunt; John Cornford's political evolution from following narrow party protocol to supporting Popular Front; reaction to staying with unemployed miners in South Wales, 1934; John Cornford's family's attitude towards his political views and his going to Spain; question of political attitudes of students studying science subjects; degree of awareness of situation in Spain, 1934; story of John Cornford's arrest for distributing trade union literature outside Birmingham Small Arms factory in Birmingham, 1935.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of legal support John Cornford received after arrest. Recollections of period as fiancée of poet and volunteer John Cornford who served with Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) Militia and Commune de Paris Bn, XI International Bde in Spain, Birmingham, GB, 1936-1937: reactions to international situation and Nationalist uprising in Spain, 7/1936; background to John Cornford's volunteering for Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) Militia, 8/1936; John Cornford's opinion of Workers' Party of Marxist Unification (POUM); reasons for John Cornford's return from Spain, 1936; story of John Cornford and Harry Pollitt's decision to recruit volunteers to fight in Spain; her attitude towards John Cornford's decision to fight in Spain; John Cornford's organisation of first group of volunteers; question of John Cornford's linguist ability; degree of contact with John Cornford in Spain; her activities with Aid Spain shop in Spain in Birmingham; hearing new of John Cornford's death at Lopera, Spain, 28/12/1936.
REEL 4 Continues: confirmation of news of John Cornford's death and talk with Harry Pollitt in London, 1/1937; resigning teaching post and obtaining employment with Labour Research Department, 1937; opinion of Isabel Brown's speeches; support for Republican Spain in GB; John Cornford's family's reaction to his death; question of public attitude to situation in Spain; areas of British society who supported Republican Spain; question of British politicians' attitude towards rise of Fascism; opinion of sincerity of those supporting Republican Spain; opinion of importance of contribution of international volunteers during Spanish Civil War.
REEL 5 Continues: attitude towards Spanish Civil War.