I made use of a variety of libraries and archives whilst conducting my research for our project on women-led activism in East London. I would like to thank all those who helped me at the Hackney Archives, the Feminist Library, the Bishopsgate Institute, the Women’s Library at the LSE and the MayDay Rooms. The interest they showed and the assistance they offered was invaluable.
The microfilms of local newspapers at the Hackney Archives were a great starting point for my research on topics including abortion campaigning and women’s refuge.
The Women’s Library at the LSE stands out for its rich collection of contemporary material on Greenham and the CND. The archive itself is very comprehensive, the system for using it is efficient and the library itself is a light, pleasant place to work.
The MayDay Rooms is probably my favourite. The place is run by a really friendly set of people with great knowledge and a real interest in historical research. Although not all the material at the MayDay Rooms is catalogued, the wealth of sources to look through is superb and its particular focus on London was great for this project.
Howard, Georgia and Rosemary at the MayDay Rooms were happy for me to ring ahead a few minutes before I wanted to visit and were always very accommodating. They have also been instrumental in putting me in touch with the woman who donated the Greenham material to the archives. She may be able to help the project further by sharing her experiences of activism with me.
Cleo Pollard, November 2015