The Film and Photo League is composed of a core collection of items that relate directly to the British Film and Photo League. This includes collaboration and correspondence with major political figures of the time such as Nye Bevan and Ellen Wilkinson, notable British documentary filmmakers such as Ivor Montagu, Rudolf Messel and Paul Rotha and Labour organisations such as the National Union of Unemployed Workers, the Labour Party, and The Spanish Relief Committee. The Archive also contains a collection of photographs taken by the Camera Section of the League documenting political events such as peace marches, and anti-fascist demonstrations. Also included in the archive is a collection of film material which includes a number of previously thought lost films by the Film and Photo League.
The majority of the Film and Photo League’s film material has been held by the BFI alongside a further collection of paper documents. The Film and Photo League is currently partnered with the BFI and working towards aligning these two collections via a joint catalogue and web-based platforms. This partnership has also led to the publication of some of the films held at the BFI on the BFIplayer and a DVD publication surveying British campaign and protest films of the 1930s is being considered.
The Left Book Club Euston Collection contains minutes and correspondence relating to the Euston branch of the Left Book Club. The items in the collection document the branch’s work in support of the 1936 Hunger March through correspondence with the MP Ellen Wilkinson, the Hull Film Association and the National Unemployed Worker’s Association. The collection also contains material that documents the branch’s work in support of the Spanish Relief effort during the Spanish Civil War. The Left Book Club Euston Collection is complimented by a library of over 200 Left Book Club publications including Left News the club’s monthly bulletin and an extensive collection of pamphlets and subscription flyers. The FPL Archive is expanding the LBC books in its collection, in an attempt to make up a complete set for public use and welcomes any donations to help achieve this aim.
Liverpool Dole Que, Hugh Cuthbertson Cuthbertson, C. 1923
The Rev. Hugh Cuthbertson was the final secretary of the Film and Photo and collaborated on many of the League’s most prominent films. As well as Cuthbertson’s tireless work for the Film and Photo League he was also an accomplished amateur filmmaker and produced a substantial collection of films following the Second World War. The Films in the Hugh Cuthbertson Collection document his work in his parish of Tilty in Essex, which included establishing the Tilty Tobacco Centre and Cooperative and documenting the Thaxted Morris Men side that was founded on the initiative of the Socialist Vicar Conrad Noel. A large number of films document Cuthbertson’s expeditions in Chile and work with the local Christian Youth groups. The collection also contains a small library of Christian Socialist publications.
The archive is also expanding a collection of film and photography not directly relating to the Film and Photo League but that explores the relationship between film and photography aesthetics and politics, and independent reportage film and photography. These include film and photography of under-reported political events, such as strikes and demonstrations, ranging from depression era riots in Bristol to CND Fylingdales protests.
Dennis Dobson, Fylingdales, 1987
