19th Century British Pamphlets (via JSTOR)

19th Century British Pamphlets is a collection of over 26,000 digitised, paper copy pamphlets that focus on the political, economic, and social issues that fuelled Parliamentary debates and controversies in the 19th century.

Seven complete and partial collections held in UK universities are included:

• Bristol Selected Pamphlets 1800-1899 (Selection): Bristol's selection focuses on 19th century commerce, economics, finance, politics, religion, and sociology, and includes pamphlets from National Liberal Club library, along with those from other political parties.
• Cowen Tracts - Newcastle University: The personal collection of Joseph Cowen (1829-1900), a social reformer and Member of Parliament for Newcastle. This collection reflects his interests in social, educational, and economic issues.
• Earl Grey Pamphlets Collection - Durham University: This collection is still owned by the family and was largely accumulated by the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Earls Grey. The Greys were particularly interested in parliamentary reform, colonial affairs, and Catholic emancipation.
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection - University of Manchester: Many of these rare publications were sent back to London by British ambassadors to help with policy formation. They include pamphlets relating to South America, Australasia and the Near East. Many cover various European 19th century political questions.
• Hume Tracts - UCL: The personal collection of Joseph Hume (1777-1855), a Radical Member of Parliament. Hume's collection covers the major political, economic, and social developments and reforms taking place in Britain in the early part of the 19th century and the causes he championed, such as universal suffrage, Catholic emancipation, a reduction in the power of the Anglican church, and an end to imprisonment for debt.
• Knowsley Pamphlet Collection - University of Liverpool: This collection reflects the political careers of the Earls of Derby, primarily Edward George, the 14th Earl and three-time Prime Minister, and his son, Edward Henry, the 15th Earl, who was Colonial Secretary and later Indian secretary in his father's administration. India and Ireland are prominently figured, along with pamphlets on religion and church affairs, finance and taxation, and education and law reform.
• London School of Economics Selected Pamphlets 1800-1899 (Selection): LSE's selection covers political party materials, including election manifestos and political cartoons. There are also collections from pressure groups such as the Fabian Society, Imperial Federation Defence Committee, Poor Law Reform Association, Workhouse Visiting Society, Liberal and Property Defence League, and from cooperative movements like the Cooperative Women's Guild. Hull University Archives also holds Records of the Co-operative Women's Guild which can be viewed at Hull History Centre.
• University of Manchester British Political Pamphlets Collection (Selection): A collection of pamphlets dating mainly from the second-half of the 19th-century dealing with politics, economics and finance. Coverage includes aspects of the Irish Question; Free Trade; constitutional and electoral reform, including women’s suffrage; the reform of local government; the nationalization of land; Egypt and Suez; imperial expansion and emigration; Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism; the disestablishment of the Churches, and crime, punishment and the death penalty.
• Wilson Anti-Slavery Collection 1761-1900: 19th-century anti-slavery pamphlets collected by Henry Joseph Wilson (1833-1914), Liberal MP for Sheffield. It is of importance for the study of provincial philanthropic societies, such as the Birmingham and Midland Freedmen's Aid Association, the Manchester Union and Emancipation Society, and the Sheffield Ladies Female Anti Slavery Society. It shows the prominent role of women in the movement, who formed societies that lobbied MPs, and printed pamphlets on the conditions of slaves.

Licence information

Authorised users are not permitted to use all or any part of the Licensed Material for any Commercial Use or for any purpose other than Educational Purposes (4.1.6).