John Taylor Caldwell
Encyclopedia
John Taylor Caldwell was a Glasgow
-born anarchist communist and close associate and biographer of Guy Aldred
. He wrote two volumes of autobiography which recount his early life growing up in Belfast
, his early career as a mariner and his political development, as well as his close involvement with Aldred and the United Socialist Movement
.
(USM) shortly after its inception in 1934, eventually becoming secretary. He was closely involved in the group's agitational work in support of anarchism in Spain
before becoming – along with Jenny Patrick and Ethel MacDonald
– a full-time "family" member of Aldred's Strickland Press when it was set up in 1939.
Like Aldred, Caldwell was a conscientious objector
and resisted conscription
to the British military during World War II
. For many years, Caldwell shared with Ethel MacDonald a third-floor flat in Gibson Street, Hillhead
, Glasgow. He acted as election agent
for Aldred on four occasions.
As Aldred's literary executor
, he collated a microfilm archive of Aldred's journals and pamphlets as well as his unfinished autobiography, No Traitor's Gait and the manuscript of Caldwell's own, unfinished, three-volume biography, The Red Evangel. The latter was subsequently published, in an abridged form, as Come Dungeons Dark: The Life and Times of Guy Aldred, Glasgow Anarchist.
In 1966, to celebrate what would have been Aldred's 80th year, Caldwell produced a small collection of quotations, In Memoriam: Quotations from the writings of Guy A. Aldred
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
-born anarchist communist and close associate and biographer of Guy Aldred
Guy Aldred
Guy Alfred Aldred - often Guy A. Aldred - was a British anarchist communist and a prominent member of the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation...
. He wrote two volumes of autobiography which recount his early life growing up in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, his early career as a mariner and his political development, as well as his close involvement with Aldred and the United Socialist Movement
United Socialist Movement
The United Socialist Movement was an anarcho-communist political organisation based in Glasgow. It published a journal, The Word.The group's roots lay in the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation. Guy Aldred, a leading figure in the group, came to believe that Parliamentarianism was essentially...
.
A career agitator
Caldwell joined Aldred's United Socialist MovementUnited Socialist Movement
The United Socialist Movement was an anarcho-communist political organisation based in Glasgow. It published a journal, The Word.The group's roots lay in the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation. Guy Aldred, a leading figure in the group, came to believe that Parliamentarianism was essentially...
(USM) shortly after its inception in 1934, eventually becoming secretary. He was closely involved in the group's agitational work in support of anarchism in Spain
Anarchism in Spain
Anarchism has historically gained more support and influence in Spain than anywhere else, especially before Francisco Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939....
before becoming – along with Jenny Patrick and Ethel MacDonald
Ethel MacDonald
Ethel MacDonald was a Glasgow-based Scottish anarchist and activist and, in 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, a propagandist on Barcelona Loyalist radio.-Early years:...
– a full-time "family" member of Aldred's Strickland Press when it was set up in 1939.
Like Aldred, Caldwell was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
and resisted conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
to the British military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. For many years, Caldwell shared with Ethel MacDonald a third-floor flat in Gibson Street, Hillhead
Hillhead
Hillhead is a district of Glasgow, Scotland. Situated north of Kelvingrove Park and to the south of the River Kelvin, Hillhead is at the heart of Glasgow's fashionable West End, with Byres Road forming the western border of the area, the other boundaries being Dumbarton Road to the south and the...
, Glasgow. He acted as election agent
Election agent
In elections in the United Kingdom, as well as in certain other similar political systems such as India's, an election agent is the person legally responsible for the conduct of a candidate's political campaign and to whom election material is sent to by those running the election. In elections in...
for Aldred on four occasions.
Last of the quartet
Following Guy Aldred's death in 1963, Caldwell continued the work of both the USM and Strickland Press before finally closing the doors of their radical bookshop (somewhat coincidentally) in May 1968.As Aldred's literary executor
Literary executor
A literary executor is a person with decision-making power in respect of a literary estate. According to Wills, Administration and Taxation: a practical guide "A will may appoint different executors to deal with different parts of the estate...
, he collated a microfilm archive of Aldred's journals and pamphlets as well as his unfinished autobiography, No Traitor's Gait and the manuscript of Caldwell's own, unfinished, three-volume biography, The Red Evangel. The latter was subsequently published, in an abridged form, as Come Dungeons Dark: The Life and Times of Guy Aldred, Glasgow Anarchist.
In 1966, to celebrate what would have been Aldred's 80th year, Caldwell produced a small collection of quotations, In Memoriam: Quotations from the writings of Guy A. Aldred
Media
- Part One of a discussion with J. T. Caldwell on the history of anarchism in Glasgow (Audio available as Ogg, MP3, Streaming MP3 or WMA >22MB)
- Part Two of a discussion with J. T. Caldwell on the history of anarchism in Glasgow (Audio available as Ogg, MP3, Streaming MP3 or WMA >22MB)
- Photograph (ref 560.77.305) from the Burrell CollectionBurrell CollectionThe Burrell Collection is an art collection in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated in Pollok Country Park on the south side of the city.-History:...
Photo Library shows members of the USM in 1938(?) with John Taylor Caldwell (extreme right) and Guy Aldred (6th from right).
External links
- Anarchism in Glasgow, Part I and Anarchism in Glasgow, Part II - A discussion featuring Charlie Baird Snr, Mollie Baird, John Taylor Caldwell, Babs Raeside, 14 August 1987. Retrieved on 2007-09-01
- The Battle for the Green was Caldwell's contribution to a Clydeside Press anthology celebrating Glasgow's working-class history. It is also only slightly edited from the chapter of the same name in Come Dungeons Dark. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
- Letter responding to review of Come Dungeons Dark from Revolutionary History Vol.2, No.4, Spring 1990. (Original review appeared in Vol. 2, No. 1). Retrieved on 2007-08-31
- Obituary by Bob Jones and Gina Bridgeland from Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
- An appreciation of Caldwell by Ian Hamilton QCIan Hamilton QCIan Robertson Hamilton, QC is a lawyer and Scottish Nationalist. He is best known for his part in the removal of the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey in 1950.- Early life :...
Retrieved on 2009-02-26.