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Actions Help FAQs Can't find what you're looking for? Browse Collections A-Z University of London	Charles Lahr papers Remove from selection Add to selection Request this item TitleCharles Lahr papers Held atSenate House Library, University of London Reference codeMS985 Date1917-1967 Creator Lahr, Charles (1885-1971) political activist and publisherMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator Charles Lahr was born Karl Lahr in 1885 at Wendlesheim in the Rhineland Palatinate, Germany. During his teenage years he became first a Buddhist and later an anarchist. In 1905, to escape conscription into the German army, he left Germany for London. On arriving in London he worked as a baker and expressed his political involvement by joining and frequenting anarchist clubs. By 1914 Lahr had taken work as a razor grinder and had joined the British Section of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). He began to accumulate books at around this time as he moved from residence to residence in the Kings Cross area of London. He also let rooms to people he met through his political activities. Designated an enemy alien, Lahr was interned in Alexandra Palace in London from 1915 to 1919. After the war Lahr returned to his trade and continued his involvement with the IWW, where he met his future wife, Esther Archer, whom he married in 1922. Lahr and Archer both joined the Communist party in 1920, but left in 1921. It was during this brief membership that the Lahr met and became friends with Liam O'Flaherty. In 1921 Lahr took over the Progressive Bookshop at 68 Red Lion Square, Holborn. The bookshop became a centre for new writers and political activists from around the world, and specialised in the sale of radical literature and first editions. Lahr's first moves into publishing came in when K. S. Bhat recommended the editors of the New Coterie to take the magazine to the Lahrs. From 1925 onwards Lahr started publishing items on his own account, often using his wife's maiden name to counter anti-German prejudice. During 1925 to 1927 these took the form of offprints from New Coterie, and then articles within the magazine itself. In the publishing world he was in close contact with writers such as D. H. Lawrence, T. F. Powys, James Hanley, A.S.J. Tessimond, Liam O' Flaherty, Paul Selver, Russell Green, George Woodcock, Rhys Davies and several others. The New Coterie ran until 1927, and in 1930 Lahr launched his Blue Moon Booklets and a year later the Blue Moon Press. However, by 1933 Lahr was having financial problems. In 1935 his difficulties came to a head when he was found guilty of receiving stolen books and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. However, after his release he continued his publishing activities although on a much reduced scale. The bookshop continued to be a focus for radicals and revolutionaries.The bookshop in Holborn was bombed in May 1941. Lahr moved the bookshop to several locations in central London before finally moving it to the headquarters of the Independent Labour Party at 197 Kings Cross Road, London. Charles Lahr died in London in 1971. References:R. M. Fox, 'Lahr's Bookshop' in Smoky Crusade, Hogarth Press, 1938, pp. 180-188.D. Goodway, 'Charles Lahr: Anarchist, Bookseller' in London Magazine, Jun-Jul 1977, pp. 47-55. Scope and ContentThe papers document many of Charles Lahr's activities, especially during the 1920s and 30s. These include his involvement in the publishing business, and bookselling activities. Most of the correspondence is related to social and family matters. There are various typescripts related to the activities of the Blue Moon Press available, some of them with manuscript corrections and signed by the authors. A file of newspaper cuttings consisting mainly of reviews of published works provides additional information on the publishing activities in London at the time.Most of the correspondence lack important details such as dates or clear identification of writer. Some of the correspondence has been annotated for Ms Oonagh Lahr before she handed the collection to the University of London. Some of the annotations were written in pencil on the same documents while other notes are attached with the originals. Where these give added information to that in the documents, these notes have been kept with the originals. Some of the photographs have notes written on their reverse identifying some of the persons featuring in them. This was also done by Ms Oonagh Lahr. Esther Lahr clearly played a significant role in the running of both the bookshop and the various publishing ventures in which Charles Lahr engaged. Correspondence addressed to her is listed in a separate section of this catalogue. NotesAdditional deposits of Charles Lahr's papers (references MS985C, MS1172) have been deposited at Senate House Library. Conditions governing accessOpen for research. Access to individual files may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Extent6 boxes System of ArrangementThe material has been arranged into the following groups: Charles Lahr's papers: Correspondence addressed to the Lahr family; Works submitted for publication; Lectures; Newspaper cuttings; Photographs and drawings; Booksellers' Catalogues; Advertising, publicity materials and notices; Other correspondence; Blue Moon Press Greetings cards; Administrative material related to business activities; Papers for Clubs and Societies; Other papers and publications. Esther Lahr's papers: Correspondence; Photographs; Publications. Oonagh Lahr's papers: Correspondence; Photographs. Finding aidsCatalogued online (click on the "contains" icon below). A pdf version of the hard-copy catalogue is also attached to this description. Related files http://archives.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/resources/MS985.pdf Other material which relating to Charles Lahr was deposited as part of the Sterling Library manuscripts, collected by Sir Louis Sterling, and catalogued as SL V 36, Senate House Library. The material is listed in 'The Sterling Library: a catalogue of the printed books and literary manuscripts collected by Sir Louis Sterling and presented by him to the University of London', Cambridge, (1954). Three pages of manuscript notes written by Pegeen O'Sullivan, Liam O'Flaherty's daughter, about Charles Lahr and his circle of friends in 1926-7 were given to the University of London Library in June 2002 by the writer. These can be found in the Lahr Collection masterfile "Correspondence and notes from 1999". Level of descriptionfonds Hierarchy browser contains 14 parts Charles Lahr papers MS985 \| 1917-1967 fonds

TitleCharles Lahr papers

Held atSenate House Library, University of London

Reference codeMS985

Date1917-1967

Creator
- Lahr, Charles (1885-1971) political activist and publisherMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
  Charles Lahr was born Karl Lahr in 1885 at Wendlesheim in the Rhineland Palatinate, Germany. During his teenage years he became first a Buddhist and later an anarchist. In 1905, to escape conscription into the German army, he left Germany for London. On arriving in London he worked as a baker and expressed his political involvement by joining and frequenting anarchist clubs. By 1914 Lahr had taken work as a razor grinder and had joined the British Section of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). He began to accumulate books at around this time as he moved from residence to residence in the Kings Cross area of London. He also let rooms to people he met through his political activities. Designated an enemy alien, Lahr was interned in Alexandra Palace in London from 1915 to 1919. After the war Lahr returned to his trade and continued his involvement with the IWW, where he met his future wife, Esther Archer, whom he married in 1922. Lahr and Archer both joined the Communist party in 1920, but left in 1921. It was during this brief membership that the Lahr met and became friends with Liam O'Flaherty. In 1921 Lahr took over the Progressive Bookshop at 68 Red Lion Square, Holborn. The bookshop became a centre for new writers and political activists from around the world, and specialised in the sale of radical literature and first editions. Lahr's first moves into publishing came in when K. S. Bhat recommended the editors of the New Coterie to take the magazine to the Lahrs. From 1925 onwards Lahr started publishing items on his own account, often using his wife's maiden name to counter anti-German prejudice. During 1925 to 1927 these took the form of offprints from New Coterie, and then articles within the magazine itself. In the publishing world he was in close contact with writers such as D. H. Lawrence, T. F. Powys, James Hanley, A.S.J. Tessimond, Liam O' Flaherty, Paul Selver, Russell Green, George Woodcock, Rhys Davies and several others. The New Coterie ran until 1927, and in 1930 Lahr launched his Blue Moon Booklets and a year later the Blue Moon Press. However, by 1933 Lahr was having financial problems. In 1935 his difficulties came to a head when he was found guilty of receiving stolen books and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. However, after his release he continued his publishing activities although on a much reduced scale. The bookshop continued to be a focus for radicals and revolutionaries.The bookshop in Holborn was bombed in May 1941. Lahr moved the bookshop to several locations in central London before finally moving it to the headquarters of the Independent Labour Party at 197 Kings Cross Road, London. Charles Lahr died in London in 1971. References:R. M. Fox, 'Lahr's Bookshop' in Smoky Crusade, Hogarth Press, 1938, pp. 180-188.D. Goodway, 'Charles Lahr: Anarchist, Bookseller' in London Magazine, Jun-Jul 1977, pp. 47-55.

Scope and ContentThe papers document many of Charles Lahr's activities, especially during the 1920s and 30s. These include his involvement in the publishing business, and bookselling activities. Most of the correspondence is related to social and family matters. There are various typescripts related to the activities of the Blue Moon Press available, some of them with manuscript corrections and signed by the authors. A file of newspaper cuttings consisting mainly of reviews of published works provides additional information on the publishing activities in London at the time.Most of the correspondence lack important details such as dates or clear identification of writer. Some of the correspondence has been annotated for Ms Oonagh Lahr before she handed the collection to the University of London. Some of the annotations were written in pencil on the same documents while other notes are attached with the originals. Where these give added information to that in the documents, these notes have been kept with the originals. Some of the photographs have notes written on their reverse identifying some of the persons featuring in them. This was also done by Ms Oonagh Lahr. Esther Lahr clearly played a significant role in the running of both the bookshop and the various publishing ventures in which Charles Lahr engaged. Correspondence addressed to her is listed in a separate section of this catalogue.

NotesAdditional deposits of Charles Lahr's papers (references MS985C, MS1172) have been deposited at Senate House Library.

Conditions governing accessOpen for research. Access to individual files may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act.

Extent6 boxes

System of ArrangementThe material has been arranged into the following groups: Charles Lahr's papers: Correspondence addressed to the Lahr family; Works submitted for publication; Lectures; Newspaper cuttings; Photographs and drawings; Booksellers' Catalogues; Advertising, publicity materials and notices; Other correspondence; Blue Moon Press Greetings cards; Administrative material related to business activities; Papers for Clubs and Societies; Other papers and publications. Esther Lahr's papers: Correspondence; Photographs; Publications. Oonagh Lahr's papers: Correspondence; Photographs.

Finding aidsCatalogued online (click on the "contains" icon below). A pdf version of the hard-copy catalogue is also attached to this description.

Related files

http://archives.ulrls.lon.ac.uk/resources/MS985.pdf

Other material which relating to Charles Lahr was deposited as part of the Sterling Library manuscripts, collected by Sir Louis Sterling, and catalogued as SL V 36, Senate House Library. The material is listed in 'The Sterling Library: a catalogue of the printed books and literary manuscripts collected by Sir Louis Sterling and presented by him to the University of London', Cambridge, (1954). Three pages of manuscript notes written by Pegeen O'Sullivan, Liam O'Flaherty's daughter, about Charles Lahr and his circle of friends in 1926-7 were given to the University of London Library in June 2002 by the writer. These can be found in the Lahr Collection masterfile "Correspondence and notes from 1999".

Level of descriptionfonds

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