Papers of Robert Barltrop

BARLTROP

Papers of Robert Barltrop

1831-1985

Papers of historian and author, Robert Barltrop (b 1922), including: pamphlets, published by the Socialist Party of Great Britain or others regarding socialism and social issues compiled by Robert Barltrop, 1904-1982; handbills and posters for lectures, public meetings and discussions featuring members of the SPGB, along with SPGB leaflets on various topics, 1908-1976; photographs, collected by Barltrop, of SPGB individuals, groups and illustrations/cartoons of leading members, 1903-1979; Miscellaneous papers relating to the activities of the SPGB, including reports, statements, committee reports, correspondence and press cuttings of articles, 1904-1998; personal papers of Robert Barltrop, consisting of WWI service papers of Wallace Herbert Barltrop, 1917-1919.

The collection is divided into the following sections:

BARLTROP/1: Pamphlets

BARLTROP/2: Handbills and Posters

BARLTROP/3: Photographs and Illustrations

BARLTROP/4: Miscellaneous Papers

BARLTROP/5: Personal Papers

<p>Further material relating to the Socialist Party of Great Britain is held at the SPGB's headquarters, including records of the organisation, 1904-1994</p>

English

4 boxes and 1 volume

Documents cannot be photocopied at present. Digital photography (without flash) is permitted for research purposes on completion of the Library's Copyright Declaration form and with respect to current UK copyright law

Part of the collection was deposited at the Bishopsgate Institute by Robert Barltrop on 9 September 2005. Further deposits were also made on 19 October 2005 and 1 November 2005. The deposit date of the rest of the material is unknown

Robert Barltrop was born in 1922 and educated at the Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow. He grew up in the East End of London, descended from a long line of blacksmiths, although his father was a horse fodder dealer. During the war, Barltrop served with the Royal Air Force, was invalided out, spending a long period in hospital, and then earned his living as a free-lance artist. In 1949 he took a teacher's training course and taught in Walthamstow schools until 1961 when he returned to illustrating. While doing strip-pictures for schoolgirls' and love story comics, and decorative painting for circuses, he wrote articles in his spare time. He published his first book in 1975. He was also for many years a member of the Socialist Party of Great Britain.

Published works include: The Monument: Story of the Socialist Party of Great Britain (1975), Jack London: The Man, the Writer, the Rebel (1977), Muvver Tongue with Jim Wolveridge (1980) and A funny age (Growing up in North East London between the Wars) (1985).