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Communism and Popular Culture in the 20th Century - Volumes
Volumes
18 volumes in Communism and Popular Culture in the 20th Century
Personal papers relating to Montagu’s early education, family and political activities, 1911-1984
These items cover both the personal and the political life of Ivor Montagu. Montagu's childhood and early life are revealed through a combination of biographical materials and childhood ephemera, alongside Montagu's curriculum vitae. Montagu's varied political interests can be seen through his range of membership cards and pocket diaries. Read more →
Memoirs, novels, and Montagu’s other publications, 1923-1969
Montagu wrote two volumes of an autobiography; however, only the first volume was published. The second volume of this autobiography can be found here as a draft manuscript alongside preliminary notes for both volumes. Montagu also visited Europe as both a sympathetic communist and as a collector of animals for an exhibition in The British Museum of Natural History. His records from these excursions can be found here. Some of Montagu's transcripts for works yet to be published are included, as are manuscript notes for his three lectures on social change. Read more →
Material relating to Montagu’s domestic and international publications, 1922-1977
As an international communist who often travelled to different European countries, Montagu did not restrict his submissions to English magazines. These items include submissions to Russian and Bulgarian publications, as well as his submissions to English journals which paint sympathetic portraits of the Soviet Union. While Montagu often contributed to publications, his correspondence with their editors covers subjects such as possible communist affiliation to the Labour Party, research for his article on Solzhenitsyn, and the funding of those publications. A keen sports fan, Montagu kept records of his plans to use sporting philosophy to unite countries and increase British empathy with the Soviet Union. He also hoped sport could be used to foster world peace. Read more →
Correspondence with and material related to the British government, left-wing organisations, and media publications, 1919-1984
While Montagu is not as famous as some of his contemporaries, these records do feature some well known figures, including: a membership list from the 1917 club listing J. Ramsay MacDonald and Margaret Bondfield MP as members; a survey completed by a Jerome K. Jerome on the subject of youth unemployment; and negotiations on the subject of Leon Trotsky visiting Britain. Montagu was strongly opposed to fascism and his papers from the European Workers' Anti-Fascist conference of 1933 are included in this volume. Montagu was also supportive of women's suffrage and access to contraception campaigns, the anti-apartheid movement, and in 1928, he corresponded with 'War Resisters International'. Read more →
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