COOKE, Arthur Ebenezer, fl 1862-1935, trade unionist

Scope and Content

Material collected by Arthur Ebenezer Cooke, 1886-1936, mainly concerning trade unions of lithographic artists, designers, engravers and process workers, notably reports and official bulletins of the International Federation of Lithographers, Printers and Similar Trades, and the International Secretariat of Lithographic and Allied Trades, 1906-1927; papers relating to the Joint Industrial Council of the Printing and Allied Trades of Great Britain and Ireland, 1921-1935, including notes by Cooke, constitution and rules, and reports on education and health problems relating to the trade; records of the National Joint Industrial Council for the Process Engraving Industry, 1920-1935, notably minutes of meetings; reports and documents of meetings of the Non-Manual Workers Advisory Council of the Trades Union Congress General Council, 1932-1936; papers of the National Federation of Professional Workers, 1930-1935, notably material relating to social insurance; records of the Printing and Kindred Trades Federation, 1906-1935, including bulletins, annual reports, conference papers, and papers of the Executive Committee; rules of the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Writers, Draughtsmen, and Copperplate and Wood Engravers, 1889-1932; material relating to the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers (later the Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers), 1886-1935, including rules, annual reports, the quarterly society newspaper, documents relating to the development of the Society, 1886-1914, minutes of the Executive Council and the Executive Committee meetings, 1919-1935, minutes of Executive Joint Committee meetings, 1926-1936, material relating to the wages of lithographic workers, 1919-1936, papers concerning unemployment and unemployment levies, 1913-1935, and correspondence, 1911-1935, mainly to and from Cooke, on subjects including the organisation of the Society, affiliation with the Labour Party, the Trades Union Congress, and the wage levels and working conditions of its members; papers of the London Branch of the Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers, 1912-1934, mainly comprising correspondence, minutes and reports; memoranda of agreements between printing societies, 1916-1936, mainly relating to amalgamations of various societies and national wage levels for the printing profession; copies of The Process Journal , 1930-1935; material collated by Cooke, 1907-1909, relating to the Labour Party, the Independent Labour Party, and trade unionism in Bristol; a typescript copy of Cooke's memoirs covering the years 1862 to 1935.

Administrative / Biographical History

Arthur Cooke was a member of Working Men's College, Great Ormond St, and a trade union official for 30 years. He was an active member of the Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers.

Arrangement

Arranged in volumes, mainly according to subject.

Access Information

This collection has been microfilmed and the originals withdrawn from public use for preservation purposes. The microfilm must be used. Apply to Archivist for originals and access to the 10 additional boxes.

Other Finding Aids

Printed handlist and on-line catalogue available.

Alternative Form Available

Microfilm made available by Follet Preservation Microfilming Project, 1999. Films are held on open access in the Library (Archives MF 401-413).

Archivist's Note

Sources: British Library of Political and Economic Science catalogue. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Conditions Governing Use

Apply to Archivist for copyright details. Microfilm copies only.

Custodial History

Given by Arthur Cooke in 1936. Previously known as Coll N.