IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 LMA/4463
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: HUNTLEY, Eric and Jessica {GUYANESE BLACK POLITICAL CAMPAIGNERS, COMMUNITY WORKERS AND EDUCATIONALISTS}
Date(s): 1940s - 2012
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 5.32 linear metres.
Name of creator(s): Huntley | Jessica Elleisse | b 1927 | political campaigner and publisher
Huntley | Eric Lindbergh | b 1929 | political campaigner and publisher
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Jessica Huntley and Eric Huntley, radical book publishers and pioneering Black political activists have been prolifically involved with the British African-Caribbean community's experience from the first arrival in England in 1956 to the first decade of the twenty-first century.
For over 50 years the Huntley's participated in many of the significant grassroots campaigns for racial and social justice that occurred on the national and international scene including the black supplementary schools movement of the 1960s and 70s, the Black Parents Movement which campaigned against the controversial 'Sus' laws and organised legal defence for black and Asian people arrested during the Southall riots of 1979, the New Cross Massacre Action Committee, organiser of the 1981 Black People's Day of Action march that attracted 20,000 black Britons from all over the country and was the largest protest march of black Britons to take place in Britain, and patronage of the Keskidee Centre, Britain's first Afro-Caribbean cultural centre from the 1970s to the 1990s.
The Huntleys were also active in international campaigns to end the South African apartheid regime, political repression in their home country Guyana and free American, former Black Panther and radio journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal who was on death row in Pennsylvania. Their publishing house Bogle L'Ouverture published landmark texts by Walter Rodney and Bernard Coard. They are highly respected within the black community as elders for their longstanding commitment, contribution and participation in radical movements and organisations that articulated the interests of the black community.
Jessica Elleisse Huntley nee Carroll (occasionally known as seko or sica by those close to her) was born in Bagotstown British Guiana on 23 February 1927 to Hectorine and James Carroll; she was the youngest of five children and had four brothers Robert, Munroe, Newburne and Hadden.
Eric Lindbergh Huntley was born 25 September 1929 Georgetown, British Guiana to Selina and Frank Huntley, he was one of twelve children, who included Vera, Stella, Ovid, Stella, Yvonne, Rudolph, Cyril, Patrick, Patsy, Nicholas and Audrey.
Jessica and Eric Huntley shared a similar political worldview and often worked together on a number of projects. For further information please see introductions to specific sections of the catalogue.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Personal records of Eric and Jessica Huntley relating to non-publishing businesses, political campaigns, community and heritage initiatives, education work, concerns with the environment in the Caribbean and papers relating to their personal lives including family and friends.
Please see individual sections for further information.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
These records are arranged as follows:
LMA/4463/A Businesses;
LMA/4463/B Political Campaigns;
LMA/4463/C Community and Heritage;
LMA/4463/D Education;
LMA/4463/E Environment;
LMA/4463/F Personal, Family and Friends;
LMA/4463/G Collected material [this section remains uncatalogued - please contact staff for further information].
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Initially, Eric and Jessica Huntley wished to provide their own centre in their local area in Ealing for the consultation of their archives. Unfortunately this dream could not be fulfilled and the Huntleys, wishing to make their collections accessible to the wider community began exploring alternative options, first with a South London university and finally deposit option with the LMA. The relationship between LMA and the Huntleys germinated through the friendship with Yinnon Ezra of Hampshire County Council sought advice from the Head Archivist of Hampshire Record Office as to options for the Huntleys' archives.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Their archive collections were the first deposit from the African-Caribbean community to be made to the London Metropolitan Archives, in 2005 with additional deposits since that time.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
There was much fluidity between the work of the publishing house and the political campaigning and community work in which the Huntleys were involved. These activities were related to and supported each other. Their personal and business papers were housed together.
See LMA/4462 for records of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Limited, founded by Eric and Jessica Huntley and associated publishing organisations, personal papers of Lionel and Pansy Jeffrey and Andrew Salkey.
For sources on Walter Rodney please see LMA Information Leaflet Number 35: Researching Walter Rodney in the Huntley archives. See also LMA Information Leaflet Number 21: Black Caribbean Community Archives at London Metropolitan Archives.
See also BTWSA's NARM (Naming and Role Models): Highlighting African British Male Role Models 1907-2007 interview with Eric Huntley (LMA/4569/01/01/003-004).
See also George Padmore Institute collections relating to New Beacon Books and John La Rose, who worked closely with the Huntleys and their business. The George Padmore Institute, 76 Stroud Green Road, London N4 3EN.
The archives of the Institute of Race Relations include a 'Black History Collection'. These are held by the Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note:
Date(s) of descriptions: Records prepared May to September 2011.