Kate Sharpley Library
Encyclopedia
The Kate Sharpley Library (or KSL) is a library
dedicated to anarchist
texts and history
. Started in 1979 and reorganized in 1991, it currently holds around ten thousand English language
volumes, pamphlets and periodicals. The library has texts in English and other languages, near complete collections of several anarchist newspaper
s, and collections of reports and literature from various anarchist organisations. The library is maintained by donations and money made from sales of pamphlets and other publications.
anarchist and anti-war activist. She worked in a munitions factory and was active in the shop stewards movement. Her father and brother were killed in action and her boyfriend was listed as missing believed killed (though she suspected he had been shot for mutiny). At the age of 22, when called to receive her family's medals from Queen Mary
(wife of George V
) she threw the medals back at the Queen, saying "if you like them so much you can have them". The Queen's face was scratched, Kate Sharpley was beaten by police
, and imprisoned for a few days, though no charges were brought against her. She married in 1922 and dropped out of anarchist activities until a chance encounter with Albert Meltzer
at a train station during an anti-fascist action. This led to her meeting many younger activists and so, when Brixton
anarchists came to name the archives they had collected from the movement, her name was chosen in preference to a more famous one.
and anarchist history
, covering many subjects that would otherwise be forgotten. Its activities are recounted in its regular Bulletin, available online and by mail to its financial supporters.
Authors it has published or re-published include Miguel Garcia
, Albert Meltzer
, David Nicholl, Abel Paz
, Antonio Téllez
, and Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
dedicated to anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
texts and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Started in 1979 and reorganized in 1991, it currently holds around ten thousand English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
volumes, pamphlets and periodicals. The library has texts in English and other languages, near complete collections of several anarchist newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s, and collections of reports and literature from various anarchist organisations. The library is maintained by donations and money made from sales of pamphlets and other publications.
Kate Sharpley
The Kate Sharpley Library was named after a Deptford-born World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
anarchist and anti-war activist. She worked in a munitions factory and was active in the shop stewards movement. Her father and brother were killed in action and her boyfriend was listed as missing believed killed (though she suspected he had been shot for mutiny). At the age of 22, when called to receive her family's medals from Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
(wife of George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
) she threw the medals back at the Queen, saying "if you like them so much you can have them". The Queen's face was scratched, Kate Sharpley was beaten by police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, and imprisoned for a few days, though no charges were brought against her. She married in 1922 and dropped out of anarchist activities until a chance encounter with Albert Meltzer
Albert Meltzer
Albert Meltzer was an anarcho-communist activist and writer.-Early life:Meltzer was born in London, and attracted to anarchism at the age of fifteen as a direct result of taking boxing lessons . The Labour MP for Edmonton, Edith Summerskill was virulently anti-boxing and his school governors at...
at a train station during an anti-fascist action. This led to her meeting many younger activists and so, when Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
anarchists came to name the archives they had collected from the movement, her name was chosen in preference to a more famous one.
Publications
As well as preserving the physical artifacts of anarchist history, the library also publishes books and pamphlets on anarchismAnarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
and anarchist history
History of anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
, covering many subjects that would otherwise be forgotten. Its activities are recounted in its regular Bulletin, available online and by mail to its financial supporters.
Authors it has published or re-published include Miguel Garcia
Miguel García (anarchist)
Miguel García was a Spanish anarchist activist, forger, and writer, and was a political prisoner under the regime of Francisco Franco. Born in Barcelona, García worked first as a newspaper seller, then a printer...
, Albert Meltzer
Albert Meltzer
Albert Meltzer was an anarcho-communist activist and writer.-Early life:Meltzer was born in London, and attracted to anarchism at the age of fifteen as a direct result of taking boxing lessons . The Labour MP for Edmonton, Edith Summerskill was virulently anti-boxing and his school governors at...
, David Nicholl, Abel Paz
Abel Paz
Abel Paz was a Spanish anarchist, former combatant and historian.Abel Paz was the pen name of Diego Camacho. He was born in Almería in 1921, and moved with his family to Barcelona in 1929...
, Antonio Téllez
Antonio Téllez
Antonio Téllez Solá was a Spanish anarchist, journalist and historian.He fought on the Republican side against Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War. At the war's end in 1939, he went into exile in France...
, and Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
See also
External links
- The Kate Sharpley Library homepage
- Video interview with Barry Pateman, of the Kate Sharpley Library. (2007)
- "Interview with Barry Pateman", "Jonathan", YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, May 12, 2009. - “Anarchism and Anarchy: A Historical Perspective” Barry Pateman at the 2009 NAASN Conference
- An Interview with Three Members of the Kate Sharpley Library
- Barry Pateman, Then and Now: Thoughts on Anarchism (Santa Cruz at the Anarchist Cafe on January 6th 2007)