Black History Month: Senate House Library Archives and Special Collections drop-in session

Senate House Library Archives and Special Collections drop-in session 

Come and view a selection of archives on the experiences of Black students in twentieth-century London and browse 18th-century Abolitionist books and pamphlets from the library of Bishop Beilby Porteus. 

Records of Black student experience

Discover how the issues of racism and prejudice against Black students were reflected in the University’s student union newspapers, from discussions over the ‘colour bar’ in the 1950s to the campaign in support of the Mangrove Nine Black activists in the 1970s and the fight against South African apartheid in the 1980s. Find out how the University of London supported Black students facing discrimination from the University’s institutional archive and student union records. Learn about the aims and activities of Black student organisations like the West Indian Students’ Union through the records of Black activist, Billy Strachan. 

An early abolitionist: Bishop Beilby Porteus

Beilby Porteus (1731-1809), Bishop of London, used his position to campaign vigorously against the slave trade. He trailblazed. He also had a goodly collection of books and pamphlets which reflected all his interests, including a strong section on slavery and anti-slavery. Come, learn about Porteus and connect with the eighteenth century by exploring parts of his library in this session. 

Visitors can drop in any time between 12.00 and 2.00 pm.