Marx Memorial Library, Grade II listed library and archive in Clerkenwell Green, United Kingdom.
The Marx Memorial Library is a specialized archive and research collection in Clerkenwell Green that focuses on Marxism, trade unions, and labour movements. The collection holds over 60,000 books, pamphlets, and periodicals stored in this Grade II listed building.
The building began as a school in 1738 and later became a place of international political importance. In 1902, Vladimir Lenin used the printing press here to publish issues of his newspaper Iskra.
The library displays a 1935 fresco showing workers that fills the space with historical meaning and artistic power. Visitors can admire this work, which expresses the values of the labour movement through visual art.
The reading room requires advance booking to visit, and the library offers guided tours at regular times. Visitors should contact ahead to access most of the collection and plan their visit accordingly.
The collection includes the first edition of The Red Republican and complete archives from printing and papermaking unions across Britain and Ireland. These materials document the practical history of labour movements through their publications and trades.
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