First World War Printed Collection

Date range: 1909-1925 (mainly 1914-1918)

Medium: Printed

Number of items: Over 2000 items

The collection includes reprints of selected First World War speeches made by British and allied political and military leaders, many of which have been translated into the native languages of the allied powers. Also included are speeches by prominent German political figures dating from the period leading up to the declaration of war. Consisting mainly of propaganda, the collection includes contributions by well-known writers such as John Buchan (1875-1940), G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930).

The collection was donated to the Library via Sir Stephen Gaselee (1882-1943) who worked as a clerk in the Foreign Office from 1916-19, before becoming Librarian and Keeper of the Papers at the Foreign Office in 1920, a post that he held until his death. About 40% of the collection is in English. Other languages represented include Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.

Location:

• The John Rylands Library, Deansgate  [Map]
• Find out how to use the reading rooms in the John Rylands Research Institute and Library