library

As a research and campaigning organisation, Anti-Slavery International has built up a large collection of reference materials which are housed in the library at our offices in London. It contains both contemporary and historical material essential to anybody researching slavery and its related subjects.

The contemporary collection

This collection comprises books, periodicals, reports, United Nations and ILO documents, videos, photographs, press cuttings and exhibitions. This section of the library houses a wide range of materials, including the following subjects:

•  Abusive child labour
•  Bonded labour
•  Child prostitution
•  Forced labour
•  Forced and early marriage
•  Migrant labour
•  Forced prostitution
•  Trafficking
•  Female genital mutilation
•  Indigenous peoples
•  Codes of conduct/social clauses relating to the above

Videos

Videos on a range of related subjects are also available as part of
Anti-Slavery's reference library and can be viewed in our video room.

The historical library

This holds over 200 years of literature on the subject of slavery and the anti-slavery movement, including:

Transatlantic Slave Trade; slavery in the Caribbean and Americas; slavery in Africa (by Africans, Arabs and Europeans); slavery in Asia (including the Mui Tsai system); slavery in Europe (including trafficking of women into prostitution); slavery, genocide and abuse of indigenous peoples in Australasia; Indian and Chinese coolie labour; colonialism, land rights and the abuse of indigenous peoples. International instruments related to the above.

Tracts and pamphlets

A unique collection of over 600 tracts and pamphlets covering both abolitionist and pro-slavery arguments from Britain and abroad. Together with a period collection of literature, it gives a detailed picture of the abolitionist movement from the 1760s to the 1860s.

These have been digitised and are available from our Recovered Histories website.

Books

The library houses about 3,000 volumes. In addition to the core collection on slavery and its abolition, subjects include the role of the non-conformist churches in the anti-slavery movement, African colonialism in the late 19th century and missionary and other expeditions in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Journals

The Anti-Slavery Reporter, 1840 to present; Aborigines' Friend, 1839-1909 (incomplete); The African Institution, 1807-25.

Lantern slides

Two-hundred-and-fifty images from the 19th century of slaves, slave ships, the Belgian Congo atrocities and African indigenous peoples.

Reports

Reports covering Anti-Slavery International’s research and campaigns, spanning from 1892 to the current day.

Visiting the library

All visitors are welcome to use the reference library. A photocopier is available (10p per sheet). The library’s address is:

Anti-Slavery International
Thomas Clarkson House
The Stableyard, Broomgrove Road,
London SW9 9TL
United Kingdom
(nearest Underground stations: Stockwell and Brixton)

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm, Thursday & Friday
An appointment is necessary.
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7501 8920
Fax: +44 (0)20 7738 4110;
E-mail: library@antislavery.org