🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING: CLOSING SOON 🔥 Last chance to see our landmark exhibition, ‘Keep The Flame Burning’, which presents our material of the libertarian socialist group, Big Flame (1970-c.1985), and was co-curated by our wonderful project volunteers, the Little Flames.

We’re delighted to announce that the initial spaces for our Keep The Flame Burning Closing Party and zine/badge making workshop next weekend are FULL! We’ve added a final couple tickets and popped a waitlist option on Eventbrite, so do continue to register your interest! Keep the flame burning ❤️‍🔥✊

🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING CLOSES, BUT THE LEGACY CONTINUES 🔥 Join us on Sunday 12 April from 2pm until 4pm for an unofficial closing party for the exhibition, and a zine/badge making workshop to close out the Big Flame project. Expect cake (Ve/GF), and chats with our project group ‘Little Flames’.

On Sunday 22nd March the library welcomed a record-breaking number of guests to its 2026 International Women's Day celebrations, attendees enjoyed keynote speeches from Vicky Holmes, Professor Mary Davis and Vicky Knight and a banner presentation from Joanne Kelly, in memory of her mum Jane Loftus.

#OTD in 1972, 45 women workers at a shoe factory in Fakenham, Norfolk, locked themselves in and barricaded the doors with machines, after they were made redundant following a US buyout of the company. #FakenhamOccupation #WomenWorkers #WomensLiberation #InternationalSolidarity #LabourHistory #WCML

Join us to celebrate International Women’s Day as we bring together trade unionists, activists, and historians to explore women’s oppression & the power of collective action. Sunday 22 March 2025 2.00pm – 5.00pm Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internatio...

It was our final Inflammatory Material Reading group over the weekend! 😢 Though we can't quite believe time has gone so quickly, we're so thankful to anyone and everyone that's turned up to a Big Flame event while the exhibition's been on Keep the flame burning 🔥

Today is International Women's Day - a day celebrating the achievements of women globally. This year, the library is focusing on the work of three women: Jayaben Desai, Ellen Wilkinson, and Isabel Brown. Photograph of Jayaben Desai copyright: Angela Phillips

Book Launch Event -Thursday 26th February 2026 We are excited to be hosting Greater Manchester Tenants Union and @katrinanavickas for a launch of her latest book “Contested Commons: A history of protest and public space”. Free event, book now! www.ticketsource.co.uk/gmtu/contest...

On this day in 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated. He was shot multiple times on stage while preparing to address the Organization of Afro-American Unity at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.

As part of our project which revisits the Grunwick Strike, our co-curators took part in an 'Ask an activist' session. Panelists included (left to right in pic 1) Sashwati Mira Sengupta, Celestino Pereira, Georgia Montague-Nelson, and Dan Edmonds. Keep an eye out for posts as this project progresses!

Not long until 'Engels in the 21st Century' by 'Doc' C. Ritchie at the Working Class Movement Library, in partnership with @manifestopresscoop Monday 16th February 6.30pm BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET NOW! tinyurl.com/engelsbook

#OTD in 1987, activist Mark Ashton passed away. Mark Ashton was born in 1960. He was an activist, involved in the Communist Party of Great Britain, the Young Communist League (YCL), and co-founded Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), which is what he was known for primarily.

We are working with eleven young people to co-curate our next exhibition, the Grunwick Strike Revisited. The exhibition, being delivered in partnership with University of Manchester, will explore the legacy of the Grunwick Strike 1976-1978 and will open this summer.

Today marks the first day of LGBT+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈. LGBT+ History Month was founded in 2004, first occurring in February 2005. This year’s theme is Science and Innovation. To learn more about this month and the organisation, visit the LGBT+ History Month website here: lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk

BOOK LAUNCH: 16th February 6.30pm! We are delighted to be joined by Manifesto Press and Manchester Morning Star Readers and Supporters Group to celebrate the launch of Doc Ritchie’s excellent and timely new volume, Friedrich Engels in the 21st Century. Find out more: wcml.org.uk/event/book-l...

#OTD folk singer-songwriter and Labour activist Ewan MacColl was born. A well-loved member of Salford’s working community and friend of the founders of our archive, MacColl spent his career creating music underpinned by his political sensibilities.

#OTD in 1891, Antonio Gramsci was born – one of the most original political thinkers of the twentieth century and a founder of the Italian Communist Party. Gramsci became a Marxist and a leading figure in the working-class movement in Turin, a rapidly industrialising city after World War 1.

#OTD in 1893, the Independent Labour Party (ILP) was founded at a conference in Bradford. Most of the 120 delegates were young, working-class males from the industrial north of England and Scotland, but it represented all working people.

100 Days to Go until Salford turns 100! 🎉 On 21 April 2026, Salford will mark 100 years since being granted city status by a Royal Charter by King George V - and the countdown starts now! Let’s make it a year to remember! #Salford100 #SalfordCentenary @SalfordCouncil

#OTD in 1901, CLR James was born, a Trinidadian historian and Trotskyist activist whose writings shaped the fundamentals of Pan-Africanism, and bridged a new connection between Marxism and Black politics, inspired by his time spent in the Lancashire town of Nelson.

#OTD The Moss Side People’s Centre was the centre of community operations for the Abasindi Black Women’s Co-operative that was established by Kath Locke, Elouise Edwards and other Moss Side activists on 1st January 1980.

Merry Christmas to all our users and supporters! We have had a fantastic year here at the Working Class Movement Library, celebrating working class history and inspiring the next generation of class activists. None of this would be possible without our amazing volunteers and supporters. Thank you!

The library will be closed to the public, staff, and volunteers from Wednesday 24th December to Tuesday 6th January. From everyone at the library, we hope you all enjoy a wonderful end to the year and a joyful festive season.

Join us tomorrow from 11am for the Engels Memorial Lecture, which is this year being delivered by Dr. Manfred Sohn. The event is online, follow the link to book your spot. wcml.org.uk/event/engels...

📺Catch up and share our third session of the #tradeunion and working-class #history series 2025-2026, featuring @louiseraw.bsky.social and Bob Kelly. This series is delivered in partnership with Marx Memorial Library & @wcmlibrary.bsky.social. youtu.be/5pBcng9BTjM?... #TUed #TradeUnionEducation

just over a week away until our annual fundraiser, Radical Readings. Follow the link to book your ticket and help us put class back on the agenda! wcml.org.uk/event/radica...

thank you so much for joining us!

📺Catch up and share our second session of the #tradeunion and working-class #history series 2025-2026, featuring Dana Mills. This series is delivered in partnership with Marx Memorial Library and @wcmlibrary.bsky.social. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dOG... #WorkersHistory #EleanorMarx #NewUnionism

Save the date! We'll have materials to share from @wcmlibrary.bsky.social and @aiucentre.bsky.social and a roundtable discussion with folks sharing their reflections and experiences from the time. Should be a lively and participatory discussion! @cperguom.bsky.social @thejohnrylands.bsky.social

Two of our Little Flames spoke to Yeliz Zaifoglu, archivist at the Museum Of Youth Culture, about their experiences working with the Big Flame archive and the importance of this work for future working class activists! 🔥 Read here: www.museumofyouthculture.com/working-clas...

👀 What can we do about the far right? Join our Virtual Town Hall for updates on new courses + a live space to ask questions. @gawainlittle.bsky.social & @sarahwoolley1.bsky.social ✊ Become a #Friend: gftuet.org.uk/friends 📌 Register: actionnetwork.org/events/frien... #GFTUET #FriendsofET

📺Catch up and share our first session of the #tradeunion and working-class #history series 2025-2026, featuring @katrinanavickas.bsky.social. This series is delivered in partnership with Marx Memorial Library and @wcmlibrary.bsky.social. youtu.be/BqKIXJS2u-E?... #TUed #Education #GFTUET

Today's the day! Join us on Zoom at 3pm: peoplespapers.eventbrite.co.uk @cperguom.bsky.social @wcmlibrary.bsky.social @rememberlop.bsky.social @writerlytone.bsky.social

Please note that the library will be closed to the public tomorrow due to staff leave and illness. We will reopen next week with our normal opening hours. wcml.org.uk/visit/openin...

Join us for an online People's Papers research project workshop to learn about the history of 1970s alternative newspapers, their archival preservation & their continued relevance for today. All welcome! Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/archiving-...

Radical Readings 2025: An Afternoon of Inspiration & Resistance Join us for an afternoon of powerful performances, traditional folk music, and bold storytelling that celebrate working class voices. 🗓️ Sunday 16th November, 2PM 📍 Maxwell Hall 🎟️ Follow the link wcml.org.uk/event/radica... to book

Are you a young person aged 16-24 interested in working with archival material and co-curation? To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grunwick Strike, we are collaborating with the University of Manchester on an exciting new project For more info, visit the link wcml.org.uk/news/we-are-...

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday for Inksurgency: Radical Leftist Publishing, Then & Now. It was fantastic to see so many of you there, and a real pleasure to hear from our brilliant panel - Nick, Paula, Amy, and Chris. Thank you all for making the journey to Salford!

Save the date! Organizing an online “People’s Papers” workshop on Sept 30th to hear from projects in Leeds (@rememberlop.bsky.social), Liverpool and Birmingham: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/archiving-... @wcmlibrary.bsky.social

This just in: our Inksurgency panel is under a week away! Join us NEXT THURSDAY at 7pm for a lively discussion about the power of print in our movements, and how this has changed from Big Flame's backdrop to now.

#OtD 21 Aug 1791 the Haitian revolution began as 100,000 enslaved people rose up and eventually overthrew both slavery and French rule, creating the world's first Black republic shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/a-h...

New blog post with an update on the "People's Papers" archival research project up now on the @wcmlibrary.bsky.social website! wcml.org.uk/blog/a-peek-...

As part of our Big Flame event series, join us for a panel discussion featuring activists past and present, who work across independent leftist publishing to hear insights about the power of print in our movements. wcml.org.uk/event/inksur...

The Working Class Movement Library’s exhibit on The Big Flame was so moving. Produced by 18-25 year olds who have managed to continue the spirit of the group, interviewing past members and creating their own banners. It is a youth led masterpiece! If you’re based in Manchester it’s a must see.

❤️‍🔥 KEEP THE FLAME BURNING ❤️‍🔥

A Blast from the Stacks! Read the latest update from The People's Papers as Arielle Lawson, a PhD student participating in the University of Manchester's Humanities PGR Placement Scheme at the library, interviews Bob Dickinson, author of Imprinting the Sticks. wcml.org.uk/blog/a-blast...

Excited for our Big Flame exhibition? Here's a post written by volunteers Ally, Lucy, and Jack to get you hyped! Just in time for Wimbledon…🎾 This 1980 Brother Goose comic was part of a series that featured in the Big Flame newspapers.

🔥 Join us for the Keep the Flame Burning Scanathon! 🔥 Get your hands on our Big Flame archive and help preserve radical history for future generations! Follow the link for more info. wcml.org.uk/whats-on/

‘KEEP THE FLAME BURNING’ OPENS AT THE WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY The exhibition, that has been co-produced by a group of volunteers, all aged 16 - 25 and working class, opens on Friday 18th July! Follow the link for more info wcml.org.uk/event/keep-t...