Description
Object description
British civilian living in GB, 1920s-1950s, employed as secretary in lubricants industry, evacuated during Blitz to Crawley, Sussex 1940. Political activities in GB 1939-1992; member of Women's International League of Peace and Freedom, the Labour Party and secretary of Lewisham United Nations Association 1946-1992
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in London, 1912-1941: work as secretary with Sanderson's Wallpapers, London, 1929-1931; reactions to unemployment; political consciousness within family; recruitment and work as secretary, Snowdons Lubricants Factory, Isle of Dogs, ca 1931-1941; impact of the Depression, 1930s; attitudes towards women's franchise.
REEL 2 Continues: Questions of personal political awareness 1938-1940, including reactions to outbreak of war, 9/1939; reasons for joining Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, ca 1939; reactions to Vera Brittain speech, ca 1939. Background to evacuation with Snowdons' staff to Crawley, 1941. Recollections of political attitudes, activities as civilian clerical worker, Crawley, 1941-1945: question of anti-war sentiment;
REEL 3 Continues: pro-Soviet attitudes; attending Worker's Education Association events; recruitment to Crawley Constituency Labour Party, 1941; example of Labour Party internal discipline; topics of LP discussion; opinion of coalition government, 1940;
REEL 4 Continues: activities with Co-operative Women's Guild; political indifference, leisure activities at Snowdons; question of working class political awareness;
REEL 5 Continues: story illustrating civilian reactions to Churchill on campaign tour, Lewisham, London, ca 5/1945; opinion of causes of political shift to left in GB, 1935-1945; attitudes towards Communist Party; anticipation of peace, 1945; reactions to V1 and V2 raids on London, 1944-1945; story of using up ration books; VE Day celebrations, 5/1945;
REEL 6 Continues: reactions to end of war. Recollections of General Election campaign, Crawley, 5/1945-7/1945: organisation of Crawley CLP; links with Workers' Education Association; story illustrating employer's opposition to staff voting Labour; voting at Haywards Heath Constituency, 7/1945; reactions to atomic air attack on Japan, 8/1945; opinions on conscientious objection; review of family's wartime employment, political consciousness. Various aspects of political experiences, ca 1945-1992: recruitment to East Lewisham CLP 10/1945; reactions to Aneurin Bevan speech, ca 1945.
REEL 7 Continues: reactions to LP victory, 1945; positions held within East Lewisham CLP, ca 1945-1992; opinion of changes in political mood, 1945-1947; story illustrating personal political dedication; attending annual LP conferences; reactions to General Election result, 1951; changes in attitudes towards CLP organisation, 1940s-1980s. Aspects of activities as secretary, Lewisham United Nations Association, ca 1946-1992: recruitment, 1946;
REEL 8 Continues: attitudes of Lewisham Council towards UNA; question of attitudes towards Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, trade unionism; question of personal contribution to LP, UNA; opinion of leadership of LP ca 1960s-1990s.