This collection of over 600 printed items reflects the interest of Thomas Murray (1900-1983) in international socialism during his lifetime. Thomas Murray was born in Aberdeenshire in 1900. In his youth he joined the International Labour Party, later the Communist Party. He served as a town councillor in Edinburgh for many years. The collection contains material dating from 1915 to 1975, but the bulk dates from the peak of the communist movement - the 1930s to the 1950s. There are a large number of pamphlets, leaflets, books and ephemera from the period of the Spanish Civil War, during which Murray served on the Republican side as a political commissar in the International Brigade. There are also over 30 issues of the 'Volunteer for Liberty', the periodical founded by the Brigade. Much of the material is from Catalonia, including calendars and books of nursery rhymes with clear political messages. There are also government-sponsored publications from China, Albania, Vietnam and the Soviet Union, as well as pamphlets demonstrating Murray's interest in nationalism and socialism in Ireland and Scotland.

Organisation

The collection is not yet catalogued, an inventory is available on request. The collection has been assigned the shelfmark 'TMurray.'.

Acquisition

The printed collection and related manuscript material have been on deposit in the Library since Mr Murray's death in 1983.

Related collections

The Library holds personal and business papers and correspondence relating to Murray and his involvement in the trade union movement. The manuscripts are held at Acc.9083.