Howell, George Papers on Microfilm, 1864-1910
Collection Number: 5423 mf
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
George Howell Papers on Microfilm, 1864-1910
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5423 mf
Abstract:
Autobiography, diaries, and correspondence of George Howell; also included are minutes
of the IWMA, papers of the Trades Union Congress, and news clippings.
Creator:
Howell, George
Quanitities:
2.78 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
George Howell was born in Wrington, Somerset, the oldest of eight children of a builder
and contractor. During the week he worked twelve hours a day as a mortar-boy, and
at one point he was a bricklayer, but, dedicated his Sundays to reading.
Howell didn't enjoy working as a builder so he got a job as an apprentice shoemaker.
While working at this he was introduced to radical newspapers including the Northern
Star and the Red Republican. As a result he joined the Chartist movement in 1848.
Howell relocated to London in 1854 where he returned to bricklaying, because he was
unable to find work as a shoemaker. He continued to attend radical political meetings
and through these meetings he met several prominent people, including Karl Marx, George
Holyoake, Charles Bradlaugh and Frederic Harrison. Howell joined the Operative Bricklayers'
Society (a New Model Trade Union) in 1859, and was a major part in leading a strike
in support of a nine-hour working day. Because of his work with the union he became
one of the foremost New Model unionists, along with Robert Applegarth and George Potter,
but ended up blacklisted by employers for five years.
In 1861 he was elected, along with Potter and Applegarth to the executive of the
London Trades Council (LTC). He also became full-time secretary of the Reform League
in 1865 after a campaign for universal suffrage. Howell organised demonstrations in
London in 1866 and 1867, and was a big influence on the campaign behind the 1867 Reform
Act. Even with all of this, he was still not happy with the scale of reform and continued
to campaign for universal suffrage.
Howell was appointed secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1871, and was
a regular contributor to the journal the Bee-Hive and published several books in the
1870s.
He tried unsuccessfully to become a part of parliament at Aylesbury in the general
elections of 1868 and 1874 and at Stafford in a by- election in 1881. Howell was finally
successful in 1885 as Lib-Lab candidate for Bethnal Green North East, London. He helped
to pass the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, while in Parliament, and was successful in
defending his seat in 1886 and 1892, but, lost his seat in 1895 to the Conservative
Mancherjee Bhownagree.
Due to poor health he retired from public life . His old friend Robert Applegarth
and the TUC raised a 1650 testimonial to buy him an annuity before his death in 1911.
Autobiography, diaries, and correspondence of George Howell; also included are minutes
of the IWMA, papers of the Trades Union Congress, and news clippings. Papers are noteworthy
relative to American radicalism because of his work as Council of the International
Workingmen's Association and his association with prominent American leaders. Originals
at the Bishopgate Institute in London. Materials were filmed on behalf of the Society
for the Study of Labour and Radical History.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
George Howell Papers on Microfilm #5423 mf. Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation
and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
Howell, George, 1833-1910
CONTAINER LIST
Container
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Description
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Date
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Reel 1 |
Autobiography - Part I - Vol. 1-6
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 2 |
Autobiography - Part I - vol. 6 continued
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 3 |
IWMA Minutes - 1866-1869: Part 2
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1866-1869 | |
Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 4 |
Reform League Papers - Part 3
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 5 |
Reform League Papers - Part 3 Cont.
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 6 |
TUC Parliamentary Committee Papers - Part 4
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 7 |
Plimsoll Papers - Part 5
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 8 |
Part 5 cont. ; Part 6 & items missing
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 9 |
Personal Diaries 1864-1908 - Part 8
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1864-1908 | |
Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 10 |
Personal Diaries 1864-1908 - Part 8
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1864-1908 | |
Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 11 |
Letter Books (1883-1884, 1865-1879) - Part 9
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 12 |
Letter Books - Part 9 cont.
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 13 |
Part 9 cont. - Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 14 |
Part 9 cont. Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 15 |
Part 9 cont. - Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 16 |
Part 9 cont. - Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 17 |
Part 9 cont. - Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 18 |
Part 9 cont. - Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 19 |
Part 9 cont. - Letter books
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 20 |
Index to Howell's correspondence with the correspondence 1867-1906: Part 10
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1867-1906 | |
Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 21 |
Part 10 cont. - Correspondence
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 22 |
Part 10 cont. - Correspondence
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 23 |
Part 10 cont. - Correspondence
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Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 24 |
Part 11 - Industrial Notes Engineering
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1909-1910 | |
Scope and Contents
positive
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Reel 25 |
Part 12 - News Cuttings
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Scope and Contents
positive
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