socialism – Manchester Historian

Today, Manchester’s Market Street boasts dozens of busy high-street retailers and restaurants. But once upon a time, the site was home to the Clarion Café, a powerful institution for social activists.

On the 3rd of June 1968, Valerie Solanas entered the Decker Building in New York City and fired a single bullet through the body of the famed artist, Andy Warhol. When questioned by journalists as to why she committed such an act, her response was ‘Read my manifesto and it will tell you what I am’.

Edward Carpenter was born in 1844 in Brighton to a middle-class naval family. He grew up with nine siblings. All of his brothers pursued careers in the armed forces, while he decided to go to university. He was admitted to Cambridge University in 1864. In 1867 Carpenter was offered a clerical fellowship at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He accepted and was ordained into holy orders.

Tristan was a socialist writer and activist in early nineteenth century France, and was one of the founders of modern feminism. She was also a keen travel writer. Evie Hull profiles her interesting life.

Kate Curtis interviews Tony Korris who graduated from Manchester with a degree in Politics and Modern History in 1966.