LSE Library
LightNews LightNews
banner
lselibrary.bsky.social
LSE Library
@lselibrary.bsky.social
9.7K followers 190 following 87 posts
Sharing our collections, celebrating our community and letting you know about our free events! Home to @lsepress.bsky.social and proudly #PartOfLSE.
lse.ac.uk/library
Posts Replies Media Videos
lselibrary.bsky.social
Founded in 1970, the UK branch of the GLF had its first meeting right here at LSE. Radical for its time, the GLF demanded an end to discrimination against gay people and struggled for full legal and social equality, inspiring LGBTQ+ activists for generations to come.
#LGBTQHistoryMonth
2/2
Black and white photograph of a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, including members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), with Gay Liberation Front Banner, possibly from 1972.
October 14, 2025 at 11:25 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
New online: The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) collection is now available on LSE Digital Library! We’ve digitised and published the GLF Diaries and the GLF newspaper Come Together. Further series from the archives will be added as digitisation continues.
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...
Cover image of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) Diary, December 21-30, 1972. A purple and green poster-style image featuring text and a leafy plant design.
October 14, 2025 at 11:16 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
From 19 June to 2 July 1975, the first UN International Conference on Women was held in Mexico City on the theme of equality, development and peace.
Find out more about this conference and subsequent conferences in our current free exhibition continuing until August: www.lse.ac.uk/library/what...
Black and white photograph of 2 women (delegates) in conversation with other women around them - Betty Friedan and another delegate of the conference. Black and white photograph of woman at podium speaking - Begum Bhutto addressing the conference
June 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
We’ve launched our new look LSE Digital Library!
Take a look digital.library.lse.ac.uk
A monochrome photograph of a group of suffragettes dressed in mock prison garb, standing and waving inside a bus. The bus has a poster from the Women's Social and Political Union displayed on the front.
March 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
“When capital pays husbands they get two workers, not one”

Wages For Housework activists argued that unwaged workers in the home have the least power in a capitalist society. Demanding wages was the first step toward women refusing housework and rejecting social roles. More posters: bit.ly/3nie8t1
A See Red Women's Workshop poster with the text "Capitalism Also Depends on Domestic Labour" A factory is in the background with a line of workers coming out to go to a line labelled 'Home Sweet Home'. On that line a group of women comfort and prepare the worker to go back to the factory.
March 19, 2024 at 1:15 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
We don't know much about this simple poster found in Mary McIntosh's archive, but we like it! #WomensHistoryMonth #EqualPay
A simple poster showing three characters. One (a man) is sitting at a desk talking on the phone with his feet up. Another (a woman) is sat next to him taking (his) notes. Another (presumably a woman) is on the floor scrubbing. The text reads as follows and is what the man is saying on his call: 'OH YES WE'VE GOT EQUAL PAY HERE'.
March 6, 2024 at 1:49 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
“A Say in the End of the World” is now open!
Come check out our newest exhibition in our Gallery — free and open to all.

ℹ️ www.lse.ac.uk/library/even...
A large screen displaying a hammer and details of an exhibition. Within the casing are various items on display including a jacket. A large screen displaying a photo of two people meeting each other. One is Ronald Reagan and the other Lady Olga Maitland. Various other objects are on display. A case with various items on display from Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), including a hammer and photos.
March 4, 2024 at 12:40 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Come and celebrate The Women's Library with us next Thursday! Details: www.lse.ac.uk/library/even...
A sign on a desk advertising LSE Library Late on 7 March 2024, 6pm to 9pm.
March 1, 2024 at 12:58 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
A decade later, the library was yet again plagued with financial problems and, after a successful bid, it moved to
LSE in 2013. Everybody is welcome to use this incredible resource: lse.ac.uk/library/usin...
The Women's Library at LSE. A view of the Reading Room from outside with its lines of desk and suffragette print on the glass.
March 1, 2024 at 12:56 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Following a successful Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the Library acquired a new home on Old Castle Street and a new name, The Women’s Library, in 2002. 📸 Paul E Smith. The Women's Library, E1. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY
A photo of the outside of the converted wash houses on Old Castle Street, E1, with The Women's Library branding.
March 1, 2024 at 12:54 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
A photo of the desk at the Women's Library, City of London Polytechnic in Old Castle Street.
March 1, 2024 at 12:53 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Despite all efforts, the Fawcett Society couldn't finance the Library and sought a new home for it. In 1977, it moved to the City of London Polytechnic in Old Castle Street, East London, under the care of Rita Pankhurst, chief librarian and daughter-in-law of Sylvia Pankhurst.
Rita Pankhurst smiling and stood next to a banner with "Justice For Loyal Citizens" on it.
March 1, 2024 at 12:52 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
In the 1950s, the London Society changed its name to the
Fawcett Society and the library became the Fawcett Library in memory of Millicent Garrett Fawcett. New premises were secured at 27 Wilfred Street, Westminster. Here’s Elisabeth Scott’s design for Fawcett House.
A hand-drawn design for Fawcett House with red brick and yellow doors.
March 1, 2024 at 12:50 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
The Library attracted prominent feminists as members such as Virginia Woolf and Vera Brittain. During the 1930s, Woolf used the collection to do research for ‘Three Guineas’. She became a member of the London Society, gave talks, and donated many books to the Library.
Black and white image of a young Virginia Woolf.
March 1, 2024 at 12:48 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
By the 1920s, the London Society had developed quite a collection of material. Vera transformed this small society library into a major research resource. The Library was housed at 35-37 Marsham Street, Westminster, a converted pub. This became Women’s Service House.
A drawing of Women's Service House in black and red ink.
March 1, 2024 at 12:48 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
The Women’s Library was officially opened as the Women’s Service Library in 1926 by the London and National Society for Women’s Service. Vera Douie was appointed as the first full-time librarian and stayed in post until 1967.
A portrait photograph of a young Vera Douie.
March 1, 2024 at 12:45 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Have a great week!
A big thanks to Marina Arcady who shared this fab photo with us. 📸
LSE Library spiral staircase and lifts photographed from above down towards the lower ground floor.
February 26, 2024 at 10:53 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
George Lansbury, Labour MP, #BornOnThisDay in 1859 🎂

These wonderful photos are from his archive: lse-atom.arkivum.net/uklse-dl1gl01
George Lansbury wearing a suit smiling seated next to his wife and posing for a photo. George Lansbury smiling and sat at a table with a selection of foodstuff on. George Lansbury stood holding a cricket bat ready to hit the bowler out of the park (probably).
February 22, 2024 at 12:46 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Learn about the symbols on these badges through this new blog written by one of our team for the People's History Museum: bit.ly/4bv1WJT
A black, white and pink badge with a traingle and an labrys (an Ancient Greek double-headed axe) on it. Text reads 'LESBIAN STRENGTH 85". A white badge with a triangle on made up of lots of other smaller triangles. Text reads "PRIDE 69-89". A green, white and red badge with "GAY LIBERATION FRONT" written on it and a red symbol with a fist.
February 20, 2024 at 1:53 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Join Nadina Ali at our Late event on 7 March to create art inspired by the archives. Free and open to all!

ℹ️ www.lse.ac.uk/library/even...
Nadina Ali stood in the archives stacks in between lots of boxes and smiling. Nadina is holding up one of the original See Red Women's Workshop posters with a colourful image of a woman and the word Protest beneath.
February 19, 2024 at 12:36 PM
lselibrary.bsky.social
The ‘Smash the Backlash’ protest is commemorated with a plaque and rainbow crossing in Haringey, placed along the route which the march took from Turnpike Lane to Bruce Castle Park. /🧵
A plaque in the pavement. Reads as follows: 2nd May 1987 'Smash the Backlash' marched with 3,500 people on The Roundway in support of Lesbian & Gay rights and to oppose Section 28. It was the first UK demonstration to highlight lives of the black LGBT community. A view of the pavement, plaque, road and rainbow crossing in Haringey.
February 14, 2024 at 11:25 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Haringey Black Action spoke out against efforts to divide the Black community over sexuality and encouraged the involvement of other local organisers and groups in the protest, such as the Broadwater Farm Defence Campaign.
A leaflet that reads as follows: HARINGEY BLACK ACTION. CALLING ON ALL BLACK LESBIANS AND BLACK GAYMEN! march for our rights! Next Saturday, October 3rd, a march for civil rights will be taking over the streets of London. The march has been organised by the Broadwater Farm Defence Committee, set up after the Farm rebellion where three of our brothers were framed by the racist courts. The march is for all oppressed people in this country fighting for basic civil rights. The Broadwater farm defence Committee was one of the main groups that support our march in Haringey in May of this year and have actively incourage black lesbians and gay men to come to this march. Lets show the world that in a time of need we will stand up and be counted. Lets make sure that when history is in the making Black lesbains (sic) and gay men will be in its chapters. COME AND BE PART OF HISTORY !!
February 14, 2024 at 11:24 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Following months of growing tensions, Haringey Black Action – a group which had been campaigning in Black communities about LGBT rights – began planning the ‘Smash the Backlash’ demo in conjunction with Positive Images.
The front page of a leaflet. Reads as follows: DEFEND BLACK LESBIANS & GAY! Whatever your personal opinion and your insecurities about homosexuality and the various liberation movements among homosexuals and women (and I speak of homosexuals and women as oppressed groups), we should try to unite with them in revolutionary fashion. We must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and feelings for all oppressed people. Black Panther Party. BLACK PEOPLE FIGHT BIGOTRY!
February 14, 2024 at 11:23 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
“Lesbianism and gayness is a positive expression of sexuality and lifestyle, not a perversion or illness.”

This press release was issued by Positive Images, to explain their grass-roots campaign to challenge heterosexism.
A press release on Positive Images headed paper with the strap line Community Campaign For Lesbian And Gay Rights In Haringey. DM if you require a transcription.
February 14, 2024 at 11:22 AM
lselibrary.bsky.social
Efforts to implement more inclusive polices, such as representing positive images of LGBT lives in education, were met with resistance from some conservative and religious groups in the Borough – a backlash experienced nationally by similarly progressive local authorities.
A newsletter from the Islington/Haringey Gay Group with the title Lesbians & Gays & The Arts In Haringey. It details a number of meetings and key dates. Mostly typed but there is a hand written part detailing a public row between a 'Parent's Rights Group' set up by local Tories and the Lesbian & Gay Unit. A clipping from the Daily Express 14th April. Includes the headline Storm over 'Barmy' Bernie's new gay teach-ins and the corresponding article. Also includes other headings such as "We believe in the individuals right to choose. We do not believe in prejudicing young minds. AIDS is a killer" and " You Do Not Want Your Child Educated To Be A Homosexual or Lesbian". A leaflet advertising a picket / lobby at Haringey Council Civic Centre in Wood Green. Headline is "show & support. lesbian strength & gay pride". A leaflet advertising pickets of the Education Committee and Council in Haringey. Headline is "Support Lesbian & Gay classes for Haringey Schools".
February 14, 2024 at 11:21 AM