Welcome to the Kate Sharpley Library

The Kate Sharpley Library exists to preserve and promote anarchist history. (More information.)

Everything at the Kate Sharpley Library - acquisitions, cataloguing, preservation work, publishing, answering enquiries is done by volunteers: we get no money from governments or the business community. All our running costs are met by donations from members of the collective, subscribers and supporters, or by the small income we make through publishing. Please consider donating and subscribing.

We also try to promote the history of anarchism by publishing studies based on those materials - or reprints of original documents taken from our collection. Check out our books and pamphlets available for sale or explore our online documents or browse back issues of our Bulletin.

Our physical library (in California) includes books, newspapers, pamphlets, manuscripts and ephemera documenting the history of anarchist movements. Contact us to arrange a visit.

Recent news

February 2019 Kate Sharpley Library Bulletin online

KSL: Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library No. 97-98, February 2019 [Double issue] has just been posted on our site. The PDF is up at: https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/k0p452

Contents
Osvaldo Bayer is Dead "He showed up at every protest by workers, peasants and native communities. Championship of ethics and human rights was his forte." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/dr7v4s
Osvaldo Bayer 1927-2018: In Memoriam by Frank Mintz "There is no separating Osvaldo Bayer’s output from the annals of Argentinean and world anarchism" https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/wstsc1
Alan MacSimoin 1957-2018 "Coming from Irish Republicanism to anarchism in the 1970s, he belonged to the Murrays Defence Committee, the Dublin Anarchist Group, the Anarchist Workers Alliance and helped found the Workers Solidarity Movement in 1984." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/v15gk9
Anarchy: A Definition by Stuart Christie "Whatever the immediate prospects of achieving a free society, and however remote the ideal, if we value our common humanity then we must never cease to strive to realise our vision." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/cnp66m
A beautiful idea: history of the Freedom Press anarchists by Rob Ray [Book review] "Rob Ray’s book begins with the disarming confession that he imagined writing a ‘relatively short pamphlet’ (p3). 300 pages later you’ve been given a whistle-stop tour of Freedom’s history" https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/vhhp7d
Statement by the Black Flag Group to the Liverpool Conference of the Anarchist Federation of Britain, Sept., 1968 "Anarchism is a revolutionary method of achieving a free non-violent society, without class divisions or imposed authority." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/5x6bxp
1952: Barcelona executions, global protests (Case number 658-IV-49) including material by Miguel Garcia Garcia "Every one of the resistance organizations – with only a few exceptions – had been smashed. Some had shot it out, some had been taken by surprise, some had been shot down." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/nzs92j
The Invisible Dictatorship [a short history of Anarchy magazine (second series)] by Philip Ruff "Humbled as I am to be awarded the position of Great Helmsman of the Anarchy Collective, the historical facts are rather different." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/pc87wq
News from the Kate Sharpley Library, February 2019 (more books on the way!) https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/z8wc83
David Porter "David was a fine man and a fine historian." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/189463
The Massana Gang by Imanol (with material by José Ester Borrás) "his was possibly the only group of any vintage that suffered no losses and that was a real rarity; his life was also spared because after he had disarmed some customs officers in France, he was charged and was then banished far from the French-Spanish border and was not deported." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/hqc13r
Thoughts on ‘What everyone should know about state repression’ by Victor Serge "The book’s an evocation of the Russian revolutionary tradition which gives it a certain amount of derring-do" https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/h70tdc


Extras
Photo of eight Nabat Confederation anarchists with notes by Malcolm Archibald and Anatoly Dubovik https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/bvq9fq
The Funeral of Sazhin-Ross by A. Alekseyev, Translation and notes by Malcolm Archibald. https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/p2nj3h
Bolshevik Concern for the Individual by V.T., Translation and notes by Malcolm Archibald. "He describes the mechanisms for control of the work force in a huge industrial plant in the USSR of the 1930s. As an example of this control, he recounts the plight of an exemplary worker who, like many Soviet citizens, had a dangerous, potentially fatal, secret in his past." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/rv1747
The Lost Memoirs of the Anarcho-Syndicalist Isaak Tarasiuk (Translation and editing by Malcolm Archibald, who would like to thank Vyacheslav Azarov for making this document available. The information about Isaak Tarasiuk’s life is the based on research by Vyacheslav Azarov, Anatoly Dubovik, and Viktor Savchenko.) https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/2jm776
Ivan Alekseyevich Yudin by G. P. Maximoff https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/sj3wn2
And two poems:
The gods are dead by J. William Lloyd https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/w0vvwd
The Disinherited by J. William Lloyd https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/bzkjd9

October 2018 Kate Sharpley Library Bulletin online

KSL: Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library No. 96, October 2018 has just been posted on our site. The PDF is up at: https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/sj3wmw

Contents:
Pierre Monatte: no stripes, no rank by Louis Mercier Vega "His reportage, his pamphlets explain, appeal, invite and incite. Not some mania but dogged questing after what might be and sometimes was. With no illusions and no regrets." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/h44kgz
Revolution and the State: Anarchism and the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 by Danny Evans [Review] "Evans approaches history with questions to ask, rather than ready-made answers to bludgeon us with." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/vdnf90
The missing memoirs of Tom Brown, Tyneside syndicalist. "If you know the current location of his memoirs, or you can tell us something that would help to track them down, we’d be glad to hear from you." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/4xgzk7
Juan Busquets (former Maquis) on Ramón Vila Capdevila, his comrade "I want them to bury me
Way up in the high mountains
Alongside the tall pine tree
That stands alone in the gully"
https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/bg7br6
Anarchism, 1914-1918: Internationalism, anti-militarism and war [Book Review] by Barry Pateman "The anthology brings together many themes that we still struggle with today and opens many doors so that others can go through. Hopefully more work will be produced as a result of these essays." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/pnvzpw
Recently received (October 2018). https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/5qfw0j

July 2018 Kate Sharpley Library Bulletin online

KSL: Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library No. 95, July 2018 has just been posted on our site. The PDF is up at: https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/0gb6n3

Contents:
Lenin is a-coming by Camillo Berneri "The working man needs to be told that Lenin will not be crossing the Alps like some 'great red bear' to liberate Italy" https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/fn30gg
Anarchism in the 1980s: an interview with another ex-member of Bristol Class War. "It made you feel confident and strong. It wasn’t us who should be worried. It was them! ‘Behold Your Future Executioners!’" https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/dncm56
Portrait of the artist as a wanted man: Philip Ruff’s search for Peter the Painter by John Patten "Ruff has discovered the where and how of his last disappearance. The final words of the book reflect on Žāklis’s fate, but also show what Ruff has learned himself: ‘survival can demand as much bravery as the willingness to die for a noble cause’." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/6t1h62
The Anarchists in London 1935-1955 : a Personal Memoir by Albert Meltzer [Review]. "When the second edition of 'The Albert Memorial' was being put together, I recall one of Albert’s comrades saying ‘I miss the old rascal’. Now we have a chance to enjoy some of his work again. https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/wpzjc8
Anarchist History Roundup July 2018 The Rag-Pickers’ Puigcerdá Manifesto: Fight for History; Tyneside Anarchist Archive; Working Class History Podcast: John Barker Interview; Sparks of Hope; Anarchist history on screen https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/crjftg

March 2018 Kate Sharpley Library Bulletin online

KSL: Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library No. 93-94, March 2018 has just been posted on our site. The PDF is up at: https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/m0chf2

Contents:
Here is Louise Michel (by Louise Michel) "She is a menace to society, for she has declared a hundred times that everyone should take part in the banquet of life." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/k98tx0
The Princess Casamassima by Henry James [Review]. "The idea that it is the sheer usefulness of the poor that makes the rich determined to keep them poor was evidently beyond Henry James." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/sqvbs5
Mr Batllori’s Death. The Friend of Ferrer "the kind and modest comrade whom an imperfect knowledge of our tongue rendered very coy, and whose face bore the indelible imprint of the torments he had previously undergone." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/j9kfn0
Tom Keell by Oscar Swede "And what good did all the talking do? Well, it kept the torch alive and has handed it on." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/wm39dr
Transition and the right to well-being by Albert Meltzer "If the community advances all are responsible – if we are not now in the conditions of the Middle ages everyone has contributed in one way or another to what is, and the right to well-being is universal. Not just for the famous, or the rich, or the well connected; not just for the proletariat or for all those who work – but all." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/cnp6vw
Gig economy, pig economy by Richard Warren [cartoon] https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/vmcx4n
The Price We Pay "The social wealth created isn’t used to benefit all of us equally – far from it! A large slice is constantly creamed off by a small section of the population who do no work at all – the ruling class." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/bnztks
Anarchy and the art of motor-cycle maintenance [Or, Squatting in Ilford] by Chris Broad. "It is as though we are separated by a wall, one side painted blue and the other green. We both agree that the wall must be destroyed, but at the moment we are fighting each other over what colour the wall is." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/tqjrqk
Looking at Anarchist solidarity with prisoners and exiles in the Soviet Union "Not only did they stop people from starving: there was the psychological support of being remembered." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/xgxftm
Anarchist Solidarity : An exchange between Lilly Sarnoff and Alexander Berkman "Well, you are at liberty to have your own opinion on the matter. That is why I call myself an Anarchist, leaving others free to act and think as they believe best." https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/18944r
Library News (March 2018) https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/h70tc6
Book news/mini-reviews [March 2018] https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/08kqs5

London Anarchist Bookfair 2017

The 2017 London Anarchist Bookfair will be on Saturday 28th October from 10am to 7pm.
Venue: Park View School, West Green Road, N15 3QR
Rail/Tube: Seven Sisters (National Rail or Victoria Line) / Turnpike Lane (Picadilly Line)
Buses: 41:, 67, 230, 341 (get off at stop near junction of Black Boy Lane and West Green Road).
Access: Full disabled access
Children: Free child care is provided from 10am to 6pm for kids from 2 to 12.

Details of meetings etc at: http://www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk/


This is also your chance to pick up our new pamphlet
The Anarchists in Paris, May-June 1968 by Le Flutiste
An anarchist eyewitness to the revolt of May-June 1968, Le Flûtiste ("the flute player") looks back on the highs and lows of Paris' student-worker rebellion. Topics covered include, student life before the revolt, the barricades of the Latin Quarter, the student and worker occupations and strikes and the part played by the anarchists in the upheaval.
More details at https://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/rxwfqq