Collection SOHC 2 - Singer strike, 1911

Identity area

Reference code

GB 249 SOHC 2

Title

Singer strike, 1911

Date(s)

  • Digital copies 2016 (Creation)
  • Original recordings, 1988 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3 compact cassettes, 6 digital audio files, 2 MS Word files

Context area

Name of creator

(Established 1995)

Administrative history

The Scottish Oral History Centre (SOHC) was set up within the Department of History at the University of Strathclyde in 1995. Since its foundation the SOHC has been involved in a wide range of teaching, research and outreach activities designed primarily to encourage the use of ‘best practice’ oral history methodology in Scotland. Until 2005, the SOHC was directed by Professor Callum Brown, since then by Professor Arthur McIvor.

Archival history

Transferred in 2015 and 2016 from SOHC. The project had not been assigned a SOHC Archive ID. The original recordings were made in 1988 using a cassette recorder. In 2016, they were digitised to uncompressed, unaltered 24 bit/96kHz BWF format for preservation. Enhancements were made to improve sound quality when necessary and 16bit/48kHz MP3 copies created for access.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Conversations between members of Glasgow Labour History Workshop and former Singer employees, discussing working conditions and the strike at the Singer sewing machine plant in Clydebank, Scotland, March / April 1911.

Clydeside industrialists began to introduce scientific management practices in 1910. The Singer sewing machine plant in Clydebank became the site of the first explicit confrontation between capital and labour in Scotland resulting from the ensuing reorganisation of work processes. Within two days of twelve female cabinet polishers going on strike, the Singer works became paralysed as the majority of the 11,000 workforce joined in.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

No access restrictions.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

    Script of material

      Language and script notes

      Physical characteristics and technical requirements

      Finding aids

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

      Related units of description

      This collection is part of the Scottish Oral History Centre Archive.

      Notes area

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Subject access points

      Place access points

      Description identifier

      Institution identifier

      Language(s)

      • English

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area