General Strike Collection

A. J. Cook led the Miners and the miners led the strike, c1926, (1938). Arthur James Cook (1883-1931), known as A. J. Cook, was a British trade union leader who was General Secretary of the Miners

Police patrol marching outside Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Police patrol marching outside Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, 1910.

Employees of the Baldwin Locomotive works standing outside bldg., Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Employees of the Baldwin Locomotive works standing outside bldg., Philadelphia, 1910.

Strikers clamoring for motorman of car, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Strikers clamoring for motorman of car, Philadelphia, 1910.

Battered striker with policemen, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Battered striker with policemen, Philadelphia, 1910.

Rioters stoning a trolley car, Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Rioters stoning a trolley car, Philadelphia, 1910.

Rioters charging horse-drawn car, later wrecking it on Kensington Ave., Philadelphia, 1910. Creator: Bain News Service
Rioters charging horse-drawn car, later wrecking it on Kensington Ave., Philadelphia, 1910.

The orator, 1926. Creator: Arthur Briscoe
The orator, 1926. Depicts an Orator at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park on the eve of the 1926 General Strike.

Scene During The Preston Strike, c1890. Artist: William Rainey
Scene During The Preston Strike, c1890. Part of the 1842 General Strike or Plug Plot Riots. These strikes and disturbances were prompted by depression in 1841-2 which resulted in wage cuts of over

Riots in Belgium (colour litho)
2818390 Riots in Belgium (colour litho) by Meyer, Henri (1841-99) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Riots in Belgium. Soldiers firing on a crowd in Mons during the 1893 Belgian General Strike)

The Riots in Mons, illustration from Le Petit Journal, May 1893 (colour litho)
CHT225239 The Riots in Mons, illustration from Le Petit Journal, May 1893 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Score for the song La Greve Generale by Georges Feline, c. 1910 (litho) (b / w photo)
CHT163895 Score for the song La Greve Generale by Georges Feline, c. 1910 (litho) (b/w photo) by Gassier, Henri Paul (1883-1951); Private Collection; © Archives Charmet

Latest Strike News, 7 May 1926 (engraving)
558548 Latest Strike News, 7 May 1926 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Latest Strike News)

A Twopenny Tailboard Trip, May 1926 (b / w photo)
STC444612 A Twopenny Tailboard Trip, May 1926 (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: During the General Strike)

An episode of the general strike in Milan, Assault on a brewery in Via Ugo Foscolo rejected... (colour litho)
2815057 An episode of the general strike in Milan, Assault on a brewery in Via Ugo Foscolo rejected... (colour litho) by Beltrame

The general strike in Milan, thousands of workers gathered in rally at the Arena (colour litho)
2798822 The general strike in Milan, thousands of workers gathered in rally at the Arena (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The general strike in Milan)

The General Workers Strike In Rome, The Troop Scatters The Strikers In Piazza Colonna (colour litho)
2798654 The General Workers Strike In Rome, The Troop Scatters The Strikers In Piazza Colonna (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Gilbertian strike scene outside the Savoy, 1910 (litho) (b / w photo)
XJF139053 A Gilbertian strike scene outside the Savoy, 1910 (litho) (b/w photo) by Woodville, Richard Caton (1825-55) (after); Private Collection; American, out of copyright

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Athens to discuss the political crisis in Greece
6015348 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Athens to discuss the political crisis in Greece, attending a meeting by the light of hurricane lamps due to power cuts caused by a general strike

The General Strike in Florence, Everyday Scenes in the Streets (litho)
1040718 The General Strike in Florence, Everyday Scenes in the Streets (litho) by Soper, George (1870-1942); Private Collection; (add.info.: The General Strike in Florence)

General Strike May 1926 Undergraduates at Dover help with the continental mail, dragging sacks of post and sorting out the mail

Milk churns at Hyde Park during the General Strike, London, 1926, (1935). Creator: Unknown
Milk churns at Hyde Park during the General Strike, London, 1926, (1935). Hyde Park was closed to the public, and used as a food depot

Miners playing cards during the General Strike, Britain, 1926, (1935). Creator: Unknown
Miners playing cards during the General Strike, Britain, 1926, (1935). The Miners Fight for their Wages - the dispute dragged on until nearly the end of November

Milk churns being delivered to Hyde Park, London, during the General Strike, 8 May 1926. The General Strike lasted ten days, from 3 to 13 May 1926

Mr. Churchill attending a Cabinet meeting during the General Strike in 1926, 1926, (1945). The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted 9 days

General Strike, 1926. Strikebreaking railwayman with London, Midland and Scottish Railway locomotive No 14118 at St Enoch Station, Glasgow

Trouble in Barcelona, 1902. Leftist rioters clashing with troops during the Barcelona general strike of 1902. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 9th March 1902

ENGLAND: 1926 STRIKE. A food convoy moves through the streets of London during the general strike of May 3-12, 1926

BERLIN: GENERAL STRIKE, 1920. Destroyed house in Berlin. Photographed after the general strike, held in 1920 to suppress the Kapp Putsch. German postcard

BERLIN: GENERAL STRIKE, 1920. Destroyed houses in Berlin. Photographed after the general strike, held in 1920 to suppress the Kapp Putsch. German postcard

BERLIN: GENERAL STRIKE, 1920. Destroyed apartment building in Berlin. Photograph taken after the general strike, held in 1920 to suppress the Kapp Putsch. German postcard

BERLIN: GENERAL STRIKE, 1920. Rubble in Berlin. Photographed after the general strike, held in 1920 to suppress the Kapp Putsch. German postcard

BERLIN: GENERAL STRIKE, 1920. Tower of St. Georges Church destroyed during the general strike, held in 1920 to suppress the Kapp Putsch. German postcard

BERLIN: GENERAL STRIKE, 1920. A looted freight car in Berlin. Photographed after the general strike, held in 1920 to suppress the Kapp Putsch. German postcard

Strike-Breaking Convoy
Armoured cars and troops at Hyde Park Corner, London, preparing to escort a food convoy through London at 6am on the seventh day of the General Strike, 10th May 1926. (Photo by E)

First wages paid out to Midland miners since dispute began. Miners leaving the Clipston Pit ( Notts ), to draw their pay. 28 August 1926

The problem of the pits. Miners leaving the Cresswell Colliery under the protection of a policeman. 27 August 1926

Scenes on Notts and Derbyshire coalfield. One of the active pits, the Crown Farm Pit, Bolsover, Derbyshire. 8 August 1926

Front page of The British Worker
Front page of " The British Worker" published by the Trades Union Congress on 5 May 1926 during the General Strike

Back cover of the March 2012 issue of Tidal, a magazine of political theory
OCCUPY WALL STREET, 2012. Back cover of the March 2012 issue of Tidal, a magazine of political theory and strategy in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement

London office workers riding to work on a lorry pressed into bus service during the general strike of May 3-12, 1926
LONDON STRIKE, 1926. London office workers riding to work on a lorry pressed into bus service during the general strike of May 3-12, 1926

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The general strike, led by A. J. Cook and the miners in 1926, was a powerful display of worker solidarity and resistance. This historic event, captured through various mediums such as lithographs, engravings, and photographs, showcases the magnitude of this mass protest. In Belgium, riots erupted during the general strike as workers fought for their rights. The vibrant colours of a lithograph depict the intensity and passion that fueled these demonstrations. Similarly, an illustration from Le Petit Journal in 1893 portrays the chaos that unfolded during the riots in Mons. Music played a significant role in inspiring strikers; Georges Feline's song "La Greve Generale" became an anthem for those fighting against injustice. A lithograph from around 1910 captures this sentiment with its black-and-white photo accompanied by sheet music. News coverage played a crucial role in spreading awareness about the strike. An engraving titled "Latest Strike News" highlights how information was disseminated to keep people informed about developments during this critical period. Transportation systems were disrupted during the general strike as seen in a black-and-white photo titled "A Twopenny Tailboard Trip. " This image depicts workers finding alternative ways to commute amidst halted public transportation services. Italy also witnessed episodes of unrest during this time. A colourful lithograph shows an assault on a brewery rejected by striking workers in Milan while another illustrates thousands gathering at Arena di Milano for a rally – both scenes capturing the scale of participation and determination among Italian workers. The impact extended beyond Europe; even British Prime Minister Winston Churchill faced challenges due to power cuts caused by a general strike when attending meetings regarding Greece's political crisis amid World War II. A black-and-white photograph documents Churchill discussing matters under hurricane lamps' light – symbolizing resilience despite adversity. Everyday life was significantly affected throughout Italy during this period. Lithographs depicting scenes from Florence highlight how streets transformed into spaces filled with protesters demanding change.