Records of the Indian Workers Association

Organisational records of the Indian Workers Association and papers relating to several local branches, including some organisational records of the Birmingham branch of the Association. The bulk of these records date from the 1980s and 1990s, but there are some publications, correspondence and campaign material that dates from the 1970s and one or two items dating from the 1950s and 1960s. Papers of the national organisation consist of minutes; reports and conference papers; financial records; press statements; circulars; correspondence; campaign material; and publications.

Although the other records provide a valuable, though incomplete, resource to study the organisation, administration, and functions of the Indian Workers Association, it is the correspondence and campaign files, described at MS 2141/A/1/4, and the 'general' files, described at MS 2142/A/1/7 that in some ways can be considered to form the core of the collection, constituting a rich source of information about the Association's activities in providing organised opposition to all forms of racism in Britain, and in international campaigns against oppression and imperialism. Considered together with the other records of the Association, these papers give an indication of the wide-ranging nature of campaigns in which the Indian Workers Association played an active and significant role.

Campaign material dating from the 1960s and 1970s can be found in MS 2141: Papers of the Indian Workers Association and is described at MS 2141/A/4