[Socialism]

Manuscripts: [Morris, W.] Single leaf comprising "a sheet of scribble done by William Morris while he was in the chair at a Socialist meeting", 323 by 202mm., creases and some light soiling--[Catterson-Smith, Robert]. Manuscript speech by Catterson-Smith, autograph, 11 pages (incomplete), spotting, tears and some loss

Membership Cards: Three membership cards for the Socialist League Hammersmith Branch (Robert Catterson-Smith, dated Jan 1888 and Jan 1890; Mrs Catterson-Smith, dated 1890), each signed by Emery Walker and William Morris



Pamphlets / Booklets: Morris, W. The Reward of Labour... Hammersmith Socialist Society, [n.d.]; Morris, W. Useful Work… Socialist League Office, 1886; Morris, W. The Aims of Art. Office of “The Commonweal”, 1887, lacking wrappers-- [Hammersmith Socialist Society]. Statement of Principles. Hammersmith Socialist Society, [1890] (2 copies)--Morris, W. Monopoly… Office of “The Commonweal”, 1891, unopened (3 copies); Morris, W. A Death Song. Lambert, [1887], illustration by Walter Crane (2 copies); Morris, W. Why I am a Communist. “Liberty Press”, 1894, unopened--Shaw, G.B. Why I am a Social Democrat. “Liberty Press”, 1894, [Laurence B13], unopened--Reclus, E. An Anarchist on Anarchy. “Liberty Press”, 1894, unopened--together with 29 other pamphlets, worn and soiled, some disbound



Photographs: Interior of Morris’ lecture hall, Kelmscott House, 158 by 203mm.; Hammersmith Socialist Society Meeting, c. 1890, 212 by 270mm., annotated with names by Catterson-Smith (showing William Morris, May Morris, Emery Walker, etc.), faded, corner detached but present (together with a modern print, framed and glazed); Hammersmith Socialist Society Meeting, c. 1890, 217 by 270mm., laid down to card, some fading



Flyers: Hammersmith Socialist Society, Lectures (Jan – Mar 1896)--“Independent Labour Party. London District” (n.d.)



Invitations: Hammersmith Socialist Society (30 January 1892), with notes by Catterson-Smith, [Peterson D9.1]



Newspapers: The Commonweal. 31 Aug 1889; The Commonweal. 21 Jun 1890; The Commonweal. 2 Aug 1890; Liberty. Nov 1896 (qty.)

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In Ronald Sly's memoir of Robert Catterson-Smith, Sly notes that: "While in London, [Robert Catterson-Smith] found his way to Kelmscott House... and gone into a hall attached to the side. ...Quaint, rough and ready, it was a long room with a platform and a piano, a bookstall, rush-bottom chairs and long wooden forms. ...This was the setting for lectures by most of the prominent early socialists attended by literary and artistic men and women... Robert, whilst enjoying the artistic advantages from the company of... socialist friends, was also an active propagandist for the branch. He was a regular attender and speaker at meetings in Hammersmith and other parts of London... [He] kept a rich hoard of pamphlets, leaflets and other mementos from this time, some with his pencilled comments."

This is that collection and includes photographs of Morris' lecture hall, a rare piece of Kelmscott Press ephemera (an invitation to attend a meeting) and, as annotated by Catterson-Smith, "a sheet of scribble done by William Morris while he was in the chair at a Socialist meeting..."

Sly notes that the "piece of paper could almost be taken as a chart or catalogue of the interests of this many-talented man, whose mind during the meeting had obviously wandered through the fields of politics, literature, typography, and the decorative arts... Below and at the side of these notes were various versions of the letter P and the words Poor and Room, drawings of a small boat, a design for what could have been a book border, and other designs similar to the backgrounds in his 'Compton' wallpaper and 'Golden Bough' woven textile. It was tempting to see this transition from socialist to art themes on the sheet of paper as symbolic of the change of emphasis in Morris's life in the early 1890s."