The George Padmore Institute (GPI), founded in 1991 in Stroud Green Road, North London, by John La Rose (1927–2006) and a group of political and cultural activists connected to New Beacon Books,[2] is an archive, library, educational resource and research centre that houses "materials relating to the black community of Caribbean, African and Asian descent in Britain and continental Europe". The institute also hosts talks and readings, as well as other educational and cultural activities.[3][4][5]
| Formation | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Founder | John La Rose |
| Purpose | Archive, educational research and information centre |
| Location | |
Key people | Roxy Harris (chair)[1] |
| Affiliations | New Beacon Books |
| Website | www |
Background
editThe George Padmore Institute (GPI) is named in honour of Trinidad-born pan-Africanist George Padmore, although the organisation does not house archive collections relating to him.[6] It was founded in 1991 by John La Rose together with fellow political and cultural activists, including Sarah White, Gus John, and others.[7]
The work of the GPI is directed by a board of trustees, whose founding chair was La Rose.[8] Current and former trustees include Sharmilla Beezmohun, Aggrey Burke, Janice Durham, Azim Hajee (treasurer), Roxy Harris (chair), Ali Hussein (vice-chair), Linton Kwesi Johnson, Milverton Wallace (died 2021), and Sarah White (died 2022).[9]
Since 2010 the GPI has received grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund[10][11][12] to catalogue and interpret its collections and materials.[13] Among other projects, the funding has enabled the GPI to open up to public access the archives of founding chair John La Rose through The Dream to Change the World Project.[14][15] The exhibition Dream to Change the World: The Life & Legacy of John La Rose was mounted at Islington Museum from 22 May to 29 August 2015,[16][17][18] with a number of associated public events and workshops for schools taking place during the course of the exhibition.[19][20]
The ground floor of the GPI building is occupied by the New Beacon Bookshop.[21]
Archives held
editThe archives in the care of the GPI include the following:[2]
- The Caribbean Artists Movement (1966–72)
- The Black Education Movement and the Black Supplementary Schools Movement (1960s–present)
- Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Kenya (1975–1998)[22]
- The Black Parents Movement, The Black Youth Movement and the Alliance with the Race Today and Northern Black Collectives (1975–late 1980s)
- The New Cross Massacre Action Committee (1981)
- The International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books (1982–95)
- European Action for Racial Equality and Social Justice (early- to mid-1990s)
- The Carnival Movement (1970–1990s)
- New Beacon Books (1966–present)
- The Macdonald Inquiry into Racism in Manchester Schools (1987)
- Personal archives of John La Rose
References
edit- ^ "About | Trustees". George Padmore Institute. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ a b "About the George Padmore Institute" Archived 8 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine, LKJ Records, 17 December 2008.
- ^ George Padmore Institute Archived 6 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine website.
- ^ "A Christmas Lunch to change the world at George Padmore Institute" Archived 3 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Finsbury Park People, 2 December 2010.
- ^ Phil Gregory, "New Cross Massacre – Book" Archived 4 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Black Presence in Britain, 27 October 2011.
- ^ "Who was George Padmore" Archived 28 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Who we are, GPI website.
- ^ "George Padmore Institute to celebrate 30 years". ALT A Review. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Linton Kwesi (4 March 2006). "John La Rose". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "About". George Padmore Institute. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "£4.4million spring lottery bonanza for London's heritage" Archived 26 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Heritage Lottery Fund, 15 March 2010.
- ^ "Citizens of a Common Future: forward steps for the George Padmore Institute (GPI)" Archived 27 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Got Lottery.
- ^ "Citizens of a Common Future" Archived 27 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute – Press Statement, 14 July 2017.
- ^ Emma Allison, "Black educationalists and the George Padmore Institute" Archived 7 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Newsam News, 10 June 2014.
- ^ "Projects" Archived 16 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute.
- ^ "Dr Ruth Bush" Archived 3 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine (biography), University of Bristol.
- ^ "Dream to Change the World: The Life & Legacy of John La Rose" Archived 3 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute.
- ^ Jon Dean, "Caribbean legend’s tale is exposed in Islington exhibition" Archived 7 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Islington Gazette, 25 April 2015.
- ^ Angela Cobbinah, "John La Rose: Dream to change the world" Archived 7 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Islington Tribune, 28 May 2015; via Angela Cobbinah website, 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Curating The Exhibition" Archived 28 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute.
- ^ "Thursday 20th August: Final Public Event for Dream to Change the World Exhibition" Archived 28 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine, George Padmore Institute, 18 August 2015.
- ^ "The George Padmore Institute". New Beacon Books. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Kenya Collection: 1975–1998". George Padmore Institute. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
External links
edit- Official website
- "About the George Padmore Institute", LKJ Records.
- "George Padmore Institute", CASBAH.
- "George Padmore Institute" at The National Archives.