BEDFORD, James (1845-1904)

Reference and contact details: GB 372 BEDFORD
Title:BEDFORD, James (1845-1904)
Dates of Creation: 1891-1897
Held at: Bishopsgate Institute
Extent: 3 volumes
Language of Material: English
Name of Creator: Bedford, James (1845-1904) trade unionist
Level of Description: fonds

Administrative/Biographical History

Born in Birmingham, 1845; no formal education; worked as a newspaper boy at Euston Station then took a job as a porter and collector for a wholesale publishing company; moved to Sunderland and apprenticed to Dawson Brothers, ship owners; served time in the East India trade, visiting Persia, Arabia, Ceylon, India and Abyssinia by sea and earned himself a 'Chief Mate's' certificate.

Bedford left shortly after and established the first teetotal public house in London which was a commercial success; toured the country lecturing on temperance and the business of teetotal public house keeping and published several essays on the subject. Bedford also became a tailor, teaching himself cutting and other skills and established tailor's shops in Bethnal Green Road and Hackney Road. Bedford was also heavily involved with trade-unionism, serving as President of both the General Railway Workers Union and the Society of Firewood Choppers. Died 1904.

Scope and Content

Three scrapbooks containing press cuttings, correspondence, manuscripts and printed material, 1891-1897, regarding Bedford's experiences as Labour candidate for Norwich in the 1892 General Election, his presidency of the General Railway Workers Union, work on the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians and accusations of corruption levelled at him by labour colleagues and trade unionists (1891-1897).

System of Arrangement

No further arrangement at present

Immediate Source of Acquisition

No further information available at present.

Access Conditions

OPEN

Copyright/Reproduction

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.

Finding Aids

No further finding aid available.

Processing Information

Entry compiled by Stefan Dickers.