MS 358 Papers of Dr Colin Shindler

Dr Colin Shindler

Dr Colin Shindler was an activist for Soviet Jewry from his student days and the first editor of Jews in the USSR, founded in 1971, a weekly compilation of “raw material” on Soviet Jews. He was one of the founder members of the National Council for Soviet Jewry of Great Britain and Ireland, established in 1975.

About the collection 

The collection is divided into two parts, with a section relating to Shindler’s research and teaching interests and a second, and larger, section relating to his pressure group work for Soviet Jewry. The general research and working papers, 1939-89, include material on Jews in Argentina, 1982-4; democracy in the community, 1983-4; Eastern Europe, 1988; the Holocaust, 1987-8; South Africa, 1939-80; Soviet Jewry and discrimination, 1983-4; Spain and the Spanish Civil War, 1974-87; Thatcherism, c.1987-9; Wallenberg, c.1980-4; war criminals, 1983-7. Amongst the writings and lectures are drafts of works on emigration and the Jewish underground in Russia, and article on ‛the Soviet attack on Passover’.

There are papers reflecting the campaign work for the National Council for the Soviet Jewry of Great Britain and Ireland and for the 35s, the Women’s Campaign for Soviet Jewry, 1975-91, including a play The Interview by Alan Sillitoe giving the story of Ida Nudel; a series of photographs of activists, c.1970-4; copies of publications: ‛A chronicle of current events’, 1969-70, New Bulletin on Soviet Jewry, 1971-2, Jews in the USSR, 1972-90, Women’s Campaign for Soviet Jewry circulars, 1976-89; and Helsinki Agreement Watchdog Committee leaflets, 1980.

Date range:

1939-89

Former references:

A2091

Size:

8 boxes

 

Records of the National Council for Soviet Jewry (ref. Acc 3087) are held at London Metropolitan Archives.