Collection

Subject files including the following: anti-semitism, 1922-1949; Jewish history, drafts of articles by Rollin, circa 1922-1972; Jewish People's Council against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, 1936-1941; Paole Zion, 1934-1971; tailoring trade unions, 1914-1971; Workers' Circle Friendly Society, 1929-1972. Publications including labour, Zionist journals, 1884-1971; press-cuttings, 1916-1972; photographs, circa 1900-1964.

22 boxes

Aaron Rapoport (1885-1972) was born in Latvia, then part of Tsarist Russia, in 1885 and arrived in England in 1904. He later added the surname Rollin. Rollin left London for Glasgow in 1906 and became the Glasgow branch secretary of the Amalgamated Jewish Tailors', Machinists' and Pressers' Trade Union in 1913, also serving as a workers' representative on the Scottish District of the Tailoring Trade Board. Rollin moved to Leeds in 1916 to be secretary of the Leeds no. 2 branch. He lived in Leeds until 1934 when he became the London organizer of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers. He remained as an official with the union until his retirement in 1951. Rollin was also notable for his involvement in raising awareness of Fascist activities in the East End of London in the late 1930s and in co-ordinating a response by Jewish organisations. He was keenly interested in Jewish historiography, especially labour history, and collected the papers of William Wess (1861-1946), the anarchist, socialist and labour organiser, which form a separate part of the Rollin collection. Reference: Anne Kershen, 'Uniting the Tailors: trade unionism amongst the tailors of London and Leeds, 1870-1939' (London, 1995).

This collection has been weeded for duplicates.

Open

The Modern Records Centre also holds archives of William Wess (MSS.240W) and the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers (MSS.192/TGW).

English

Russian

Yiddish