John Taylor Caldwell (July 14, 1911 - January 12, 2007) was a Glasgow-born anarchist communist, 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 seaman and his political development as well as his close involvement with Aldred and the United Socialist Movement.
A Career Agitator
Caldwell joined Aldred's United Socialist Movement (USM) shortly after its inception in in 1934, eventually becoming Secretary. He was closely involved in the group's agitational work in support of republican 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 in 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.[Caldwell, John Taylor (1988), "Come Dungeons Dark: The Life and Times of Guy Aldred, Glasgow Anarchist"] ]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 ironically) in May 1968.[Caldwell, John Taylor (1988), "Come Dungeons Dark: The Life and Times of Guy Aldred, Glasgow Anarchist", p1] ]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".[Caldwell, John T. (1978), "Guy Aldred, Anti-Parliamentarian, 1886-1963: A Memoir", "Essays in Scottish Labour History", ed. MacDougall, I.] 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"
References
Media
* [http://www.archive.org/details/EarlyAnarchismglasgow 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)
* [http://www.archive.org/details/JohnTaylorCalswellMoreOnGlasgowsEarlyAnarchism 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)
* [http://www.theglasgowstory.com/imageview.php?inum=TGSE00709 Photograph (ref 560.77.305)] from the Burrell Collection Photo Library shows members of the USM in 1938(?) with John Taylor Caldwell (extreme right) and Guy Aldred (6th from right).
Links
* [http://raforum.info/article.php3?id_article=3588 Anarchism in Glasgow] - A discussion featuring Charlie Baird Snr, Mollie Baird, John Taylor Caldwell, Babs Raeside, August 14, 1987. Retrieved on 2007-09-01
* [http://www.citystrolls.com/people/sections/green-battle.htm 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.
* [http://www.revolutionary-history.co.uk/backiss/Vol2/No4/Aldred.html Letter responding to review of Come Dungeons Dark] from [http://www.revolutionary-history.co.uk/ Revolutionary History] Vol.2, No.4, Spring 1990. ( [http://www.revolutionary-history.co.uk/backiss/Vol2/No1/Caldwell.html Original review] appeared in Vol. 2, No. 1). Retrieved on 2007-08-31
* [http://www.ainfos.ca/07/jan/ainfos00290.html Obituary] by Bob Jones and Gina Bridgeland from [http://www.katesharpleylibrary.net/bulletin/kslbarch.htm Bulletin of the Kate Sharpley Library] . Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
* [http://www.ianhamiltonqc.com/wordpress/?p=69 An appreciation of Caldwell] by Ian Hamilton QC Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
Bibliography
*Caldwell, J.T. [ed. and introduction, "uncredited"] (1966), "In Memoriam Guy A. Aldred, 1886 ― 1963: Quotations from the writings of Guy A. Aldred", Strickland Press, Glasgow
*Caldwell, John T. (1978), "Guy Aldred, Anti-Parliamentarian, 1886-1963: A Memoir", "Essays in Scottish Labour History: a tribute to W. H. Marwick", ed. MacDougall, I., ISBN 0859760391
*Caldwell, John Taylor (1988), "Come Dungeons Dark: The Life and Times of Guy Aldred, Glasgow Anarchist", ISBN 0946487197
*Caldwell, John Taylor (1994), "Severely Dealt with: Growing Up in Belfast and Glasgow", ISBN 187060590X
*Caldwell, John Taylor (1999), "With Fate Conspire: Memoirs of a Glasgow Seafarer and Anarchist", ISBN 0952346714
Persondata
NAME= Caldwell, John Taylor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= seaman, anarchist and biographer
DATE OF BIRTH= July 14, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH= Glasgow, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH= January 12, 2007
PLACE OF DEATH= Glasgow, Scotland
