More October Events

Monday 10. 6:30–9pm. African-British Civil Rights and Activism (1965 – 2011) - Where Are We Now? Jessica Huntley and History Academic Dr Hakim Adi will examine the theme & take questions. The session will be moderated by History Consultant Kwaku. Music 4 Causes Rap Artist Kimba will perform to the theme. Refreshments 6:30-7pm. Members' Lounge, Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, HA1. RSVP: harrowbhm@hotmail.com

Tuesday 11. 7.30pm. Striking a Light The Matchwomen and Their Place in History. Louise Raw will talk about her book Striking a Light: a new history of the Bryant & May matchwomen’s strike of 1888. Orford House Social Club, 73 Orford Road, Walthamstow, E17. £2.50/£1.50.

Wednesday 12. 7.30pm. Oscar Wilde: Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes presented by Neil Titley. This event draws on his theatre show to provide an evening of drama, theatre and comedy on Oscar's life with special reference to his Wandsworth Prison experience, followed by a question and answer session.  This talk coincides with Separation & Silence, Wandsworth Museum’s new temporary exhibition charting the 160-year history of Wandsworth Prison. Tickets only £5. Bookings at bookings@wandsworthmuseum.co.uk.  Admission includes entry to the Museum’s permanent gallery, and £1 off  entry to the De Morgan Centre (www.demorgan.org.uk), located in the Museum building. Wandsworth Museum, West Hill, London, SW18.

Tuesday 18. 6pm. Formal and Informal Empire in the Nineteenth Century. Professor Richard J. Evans. Museum of London. See www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/formal-and-informal-empire-in-the-nineteenth-century.

Wednesday 19. 2pm. Art & Compromise VII: Julian Stallabrass with Clive Stafford Smith. Using Images of War. Beaconsfield, 22 Newport Street, London SE11. 0207 582 6465. info@beaconsfield.ltd.uk. www.beaconsfield.ltd.uk. Art & Compromise VII investigates questions raised by Beaconsfield's recent exhibition Gaming in Waziristan: What now does it take to confer artistic status on an image of war? At what point does documentary evidence become 'art'? Julian Stallabrass, Reader at the Courtauld Institute will address such issues in conversation with international human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith. This event is free but booking is essential. To reserve a place please email: lily@beaconsfield.ltd.uk.

Thursday 20. 5.30pm. The History of White People.  Nell Painter, Emeritus Professor, Stanford University, California. This lecture, marking Black History Month, suggests that ‘race’ is a human invention, with a meaning and reality that have changed over time. It traces the invention of the concept of race, as well as the historical focus on and frequent worship of ‘whiteness’ for economic, social, scientific and political ends. Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building at Newcastle University. For further details please visit: www.ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures.

Saturday 22. 12-3pm. Bolton Socialist Club Open Day. There will be displays and presentations about the club’s activities and history, and by the various organisations who use it. A buffet lunch will be available. Founded in 1886, the Club is the oldest and one of the few remaining independent Socialist Clubs in the country. It has been at its present home at 16 Wood Street, the birthplace of Lord Leverhulme, since 1905 and has a long and very rich history. Membership is open to anyone who describes themselves as a socialist and the club organises a broad range of regular activities and events, including a film group, a choir, a people’s history group, music and poetry nights and regular talks and discussions on issues of the day. In addition it organises the annual Walt Whitman Walk, celebrating Bolton’s connection with the great American poet, and a well-supported annual celebration of International Womens Day. Bolton Home Start, a charity working with families with young children, are  based in the club and many other organisations use its facilities. The Trades Council hold meetings there, as well as the union UNITE, the Green Party,  Comhaltas (an Irish music organisation), and many more. 16 Wood Street, Bolton. BL1 1DY.

Saturday  22. 10.30am-4pm. 10^th Essex Conference on Labour History, jointly organised by Labour Heritage, the Essex County Labour Party & the Cambridge & South West Essex Co-operative Party Council. Labour Hall, Collingwood Road, Witham, Essex, CM8. Talks: The History of Co-operation & the formation of Co-operative Societies in Essex - Stan Newens (Labour historian & former Labour MP & MEP); From Co-operative Pioneer to Labour Minister – the life of Alfred Barnes - John Gyford  (Labour historian & former Essex & Braintree Labour Councillor); The Struggle for the Right to Vote – the Chartist Movement - Malcolm Chase (Professor Social History, Leeds Univ., author of Chartism: a New History; The Development of Working Class Education for Adults - Colin Waugh (lecturer and author on working class education).

Monday, 24. 1pm. Slavery, Ships and Sickness. Professor Stuart Anderson. Museum of London. See www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/slavery-ships-and-sickness.

Tuesday 25. 6-8pm. Joseph Wood, Yorkshire Quaker, 1750-1821.  Joseph Wood was a member of High Flatts Meeting in Yorkshire and as a Minister of the Gospel travelled widely throughout England and Wales. He was a true Quaker of the Quietist years and a prolific writer. The speaker this evening, Pamela Cooksey, has transcribed Joseph Wood’s one hundred surviving Notebooks. These unedited and virtually unknown writings will provide a significant new resource for those with an interest in Quaker history and eighteenth and early nineteenth century studies. During her talk Pamela will highlight aspects of Joseph Wood’s life, ministry and travels. There will an exhibition of some of the original Notebooks and related illustrative material. The Transcription has now been published. Register for a free place at: www.quaker.org.uk/josephwood. Quaker Centre, Friends House, 173 Euston Rd, London NW1.

Wednesday 26. 5pm. The Making of the National Insurance Act, 1911. Why the Welfare State was invented? Pat Thane. Contemporary British History Seminar, KCL History Department Seminar Room, 8th floor, Strand Building, Kings College London, WC2.

Thursday 27.  5.30pm. Slavery, evil deeds and rethinking the past. James Walvin, Emeritus Professor of History, University of York. Recent acts of genocide have reopened the debate about evil as a historical force. In this context, can we rethink the history of Atlantic slavery? Marking Black History Month, this talk examines the British slave ship, the Zong, and the legal issues of an insurance claim for its ‘cargo’ of slaves. Many slaves had died in the crossing but 132 were thrown overboard. Complex arguments arose as to whether the slaves were ‘things’ and the subsequent outcry ignited the anti-slavery campaign. Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building at Newcastle University. For further details please visit: www.ncl.ac.uk/events/public-lectures

27 October 7-9pm. First Positive Money Meetup in Newcastle. Leech Building, room 2.2 - in Newcastle University Medical School, 15-16 Framlington Pl, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2. Tea and coffee from 7pm.  Presentation with questions and answers from 7.30-pm. See Positive Money’s website for details of meetings elsewhere.