Thanks initially to the archiving efforts of Libcom and the Sparrows’ Nest, a number of old editions of Freedom Anarchist Newspaper, the longest-running anarchist publication in the English language, have become available as PDFs over the last few years. As part of our efforts to maintain and make our archive available more widely, we’ve decided to mirror and expand on these collections. Below we’ve collated and optimised all the files we could find online, and have also added scans of our own, many of which are keyword searchable.

Jump to: 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

A selection of 1,384 issues is online so far featuring examples in every decade, representing more than a third of the total — with more to come. Freedom retains a partial archive of printed versions of the paper, and a long-term project will be to scan and put up as much of it as possible. If you want to get involved in the initiative please do get in touch!

Freedom also has some materials related to the broader anarchist movement’s history in Britain — check out our unique timeline of the last 90 years and for an in-depth overview of the 1870-1930 period, John Quail’s The Slow Burning Fuse. If you’re looking for 1960s publication Anarchy: a Journal of Anarchist Ideas, most of them have been scanned and uploaded to an archive on Libcom (here). Separately we have also collated a list of Freedom books published over the last 130-odd years on Wikipedia (spreadsheet here). While not entirely complete, it does cover most of the Press’s output throughout that time.

In October 2018, partly because of the availability of this archive, we were able to collate and publish a first effort at a book covering the history of Freedom Press itself. A Beautiful Idea, by Rob Ray, can be found here at our online store.

Please note: The overall quality of the digital archive is variable depending on who it is that’s done the scanning and in some cases, because the papers themselves were damaged in the 2013 arson attack on Freedom Bookshop. In some cases, particularly for the Sparrows’ Nest and the Spain and The World series on archive.org, higher quality file versions are available. It’s also worth keeping an eye on them and Bibliothek der Freien, which updates regularly with sources for a much wider range of archives worldwide.

The PDFs themselves cannot be searched via the Freedom News search function, however if you Google your term along with the site details (eg: “John Rety” site:freedomnews.org.uk) this will search the machine-readable pages.

If you’re looking for an issue which is not already here, physical copies of the entire early Freedom archive and a great deal of Freedom Group correspondence from the time are available at the International Institute of Social History in Holland. The Bishopsgate Library in London maintains a complete archive of the 1920-2014 period.

Downloading in batches: We’ve had a request to make the set available for multiple downloads. As the files amount to several gigabytes we will be uploading by decade to a Drive account rather than put stress on our long-suffering host. Up so far — 19th century | 1900s. These may end up missing some files as the list on this page is still being expanded on a regular basis.

19th Century



1886

October | November | December

1887

February | April

May | June | July | August

September

1890

January | April

1891

April | June

x

1900s

1900

January/February | March/April

May | June/July | August

September/October | November | December

1901

January | February | March/April

May/June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1906

January/February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1907

January | February | March/April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1908

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1909

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

x

1910s

1910

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1911

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1912

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1913

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1914

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1915

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1916

January | February | March | April

May | June

1917

April | May | December

1918

September | November

1919

January | April

x

1920s



1921

June | August | December

1923

March-April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

1926

January | February | April |

June | August |

October | November

1927

January | February | March | April |

June | July |

September | November

Note: Freedom went into a period of abeyance following the demolition of its base on Ossulston Street in 1927 and editor Tom Keell’s move to the Whiteway Colony with the old printing press. People who disagreed with Keell’s editorship briefly produced a replacement-rival, ‘Freedom Journal’ under Ambrose G Barker, and Keell himself brought out an irregular ‘Freedom Bulletin’, but the early 1930s saw Freedom come out only rarely in any version. In 1936 however a collective was formed to produce Spain and The World, led by Vernon Richards. Keell and fellow former Freedom Group member Lilian Wolfe lent their support to the new publication, which ran until 1939, when it changed its name to Revolt, then War Commentary in the 1940s and finally back to Freedom at the end of World War II.

1928



July (Bulletin issue three) | September-October | November-December

1929



January-February | May | September

x

1930s

1930

February | July | December

1931

January (Barker’s Journal, issue nine) | July (Bulletin)

1932

February | June | December

1936

August (CNT/FAI Bulletin – final issue of ‘Freedom’ before founding of Spain and the World)

December: 11 (Vol 1:1, Spain and the World) | 24

1937

January: 8 | 22

February: 5 | 19

March: 5 | 19

April: 2 | 16

May: 1 | 15

June: 4 | 11

July: 2 | 9

August: 11 | 25

September: 8 | 22

October: 13 | 24

November: 10 | 24

December: 10

1938

January: 5 | 21

February: 2 | 18

March: 4 | 18

April: 8 | 29

May: 20

June: 24

July: 29

August: 26

September: 16 | 30

October: 15 | 28

November: 12

December: 3 | 23

1939

February: 11 (Revolt, issue one, replacing SatW) | 25

March: 25

April: 15

May: 1

June: 3

x

1940s

1940



March (War Commentary issue five, replacing Revolt)

1941

February | April | June | July

1942

March | July (early)

1943

August (mid)

1944

January

November: 11 | 25

December: 9

1945

January: 13 | 27

February: 10 | 24

March: 10 | 24

April: 7 | 21

May: 5 | 19

June: 2

(Freedom)

August: 25



1946



Februaryx

1947

January: 4 | 18

February: 1 | 15

March: 8 | 22

April: 5 | 19 |

May: 3 | 17 | 31

June: 14 | 28

July: 12 | 26

August: 9 | 23

September: 6 | 20

October: 6 | 18

November: 1 | 15 | 29

December: 13 | 27

1948

January: 10 | 24

February: 7 | 21

March: 6 |20

April: 3 | 17

May: 1 | 15 | 29

June: 12 | 26

July: 10 | 24

August: 7 | 21

September: 4 | 18

October: 2 | 16 | 30

November: 14 | 27

December: 11 | 24

1949

January: 8 | 22

February: 5 | 19

March: 5 | 19

April: 2 | 16 | 30

May: 14 | 28

June: 11 | 25

July: 3 | 9

August: 6 | 20

September: 3 | 17

October: 1 | 15 | 29

November: 12 | 26

December: 10 | 24

x

1950s

1950

January: 21

February: 18

March: 4 | 18

April: 1 | 15 | 29

May: 13 | 27

June: 10 | 24

July: 8 | 22

August: 5 | 19

September: 2 | 16 | 30

October: 14 | 28

November: 11 | 25

December: 9 | 23

1951

January: 6 | 20

February: 3 | 17

March: 3 | 17 | 31

April: 14

May: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

June: 2 | 9 | 23 | 30

July: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

August: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

September: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

October: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

November: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24

December: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

1952

January: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

February: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23

Match: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

April: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

May: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

June: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

July: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

August: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

September: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

October: 4 | 11 | 18

November: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

December: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

1953

January: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

February: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

March: 7 | 21 | 28

April: 04 |11 | 18 | 25

May: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

June: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

July: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

August: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

September: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

October: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

November: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

December: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

1958

January: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

February: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22

March: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

April: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

May: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

June: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

July: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

August: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

September: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

October: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

November: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

December: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

1959

January: 3 | 10 | 17 | 31

February: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

March: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

April: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

May: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

June: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

July: 4 | 11 | 18 | 28

August: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

September: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

October: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

November: 7 | 16 | 21 | 28

December: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

x

1960s

1960

January: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

February: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

March: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

April: 2 | 9 | 16 | 30

May: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

June: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

July: 2 | 9 | 16 | 30

August: 6 | 13 | 20 | 27

September: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24

October: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

November: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

December: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24

1961

January: 14 | 21 | 28

February: 4 | 11 | 18

March: 4 | 11 | 18

April: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22

May: 6 | 13 | 20

June: 3 | 10 | 17

July: 1 | 8 | 15

August: 5 | 12 | 19

September: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23

October: 7 | 14 | 21

November: 4 | 11 | 18

December: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23

1962

October: 6 | 20

November: 3 | 10 | 17

December: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22

1963

January: 5 | 19

February: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23

March: 9 | 16 | 23

April: 6 | 13 | 20

May: 4 | 11 | 18

June: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22

July: 6 | 13 | 20

August: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24

September: 7 | 14 | 21 | 28

October: 6 | 12 | 19 | 26

November: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

December: 1 | 8 | 14 | 21

1964

January: 18 | 25

February: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

March: 14 | 28

April: 11 | 26

May: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

June: 13 | 20 | 27

July: 11 | 18 | 25

August: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

September: 12 | 19 | 26

October: 17 | 24 | 31

November: 14 | 21 | 28

December: 12 | 26

1965

January: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

February: 13 | 20 | 27

March: 13 | 20 | 27

April: 10 | 17 | 24

May: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

June: 12 | 19 | 26

July: 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

August: 14 | 21 | 28

September: 11 | 18 | 25

October: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

November: 13 | 20 | 27

December: 11 | 18 | 25

1966

January: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

February: 12 | 19 | 26

March: 12 | 19 | 26

April: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

May: 14 | 21 | 28

June: 11 | 18 | 25

July: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

August: 27 | 13 | 20

September: 10 | 17 | 24

October: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

November: 12 | 19 | 26

December: 10 | 17 | 24

1967

January: 14 | 21 | 28

February: 11 | 18 | 25

March: 11 | 18 | 25

April: 8 | 15 | 29

May: 13 | 20 | 27

June: 10 | 17 | 24

July: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

August: 12 | 19 | 26

September: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

October: 14 | 21 | 28

November: 11 | 18 | 25

December: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23

1968

January: 13 | 20 | 27

February: 10 | 17 | 24

March: 9 | 16 | 30

April: 13 | 20 | 27

May: 11 | 18 | 25

June: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

July: 13 | 20 | 27

August: 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

September: 14 | 21 | 28

October: 12 | 19 | 26

November: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

December: 14 | 21 | 28

1969

January: 11 | 18 | 25

February: 8 | 15 | 22

March: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

April: 5 | 19 | 26

May: 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

June: 14 | 19 | 28

July: 12 | 19 | 26

August: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

September: 13 | 20 | 27

October: 11 | 18 | 25

November: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

December: 6 | 13 | 20

1970s

1970

January: 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

February: 14 | 21 | 28

March: 9 | 21 | 28

April: 11 | 18 | 25

May: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

June: 13 | 20 | 27

July: 11 | 18 | 25

August: 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

September: 12 | 19 | 26

October: 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

November: 14 | 21 | 28

December: 5 | 12 | 19

1971

January: 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

February: 27

March: 13 |20 | 27

April: 10 | 17 | 24

May: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

June: 12 | 19 | 26

July: 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

August: 14 | 21 | 28

September: 11 | 18

October: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

November: 13 | 20 | 27

December: 11 | 18 | 25

1972

January: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

February: 12 | 19 | 26

March: 4 |

April: 1 | 8 | 15 | 29

May: 6 | 13 | 27

June: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24

July: 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29

August: 5 | 12 | 19 | 26

September: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30

October: 7 | 14 | 21

November: 4 | 11 | 18 | 25

December: 2 | 9 | 16 | 23

1973

January: 6 | 13 | 20

February: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24

March: 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31

1974

June: 29

July: 13 | 27

August: 3

November: 2

1976

December: 4x

x

1980s



1980

January: 19

February: 2 | 16

March: 1 | 15 | 29

April: 12 | 26

May: 10 | 24

June: 7 | 21

July: 5 | 19

August: 2 | 16 | 30

September: 13 | 27

October: 11 | 25

November: 8 | 22

December: 8 | 20

1981

January: 17 | 30

February: 13 | 27

March: 13 | 26

April: 10

May: 1 | 8 | 23

June: 6 | 20

July: 4 | 18

August: 1 | 15 | 22

September: 12 | 26

October: 10 | 24

November: 7 | 21

December: 5 | 19

1982

January: 23

February: 6 | 26

March: 6 | 26

April: 4 | 17

May: 1 | 22 | 29

June: 12 | 26

July: 10 | 24

August: 7 | 21 | 28

September: 11

October: 2 | 16 | 30

November: 13 | 27

December: 11 | 25

1985

January

May | June | August

September | November | December

1988

Septemberx

x

1990s



1994

January: 8 | 22

February: 5 | 19

March: 5 | 19

April: 2 | 16 | 30

May: 28

June: 11 | 25x

1997

November: 1

x

2000s



2003

June: 14 | 28

July: 12 | 26

August: 9

September: 27

October: 11 | 25

November: 8 | 22

December: 6 | 20

2004

January: 10 | 24

February: 7 | 21

March: 6

April: 3 | 17

May: 1 | 15 | 29

June: 12 | 26

July: 10

August: 7

September: 4 | 18

October: 2 | 30

November: 13 | 27

December: 11

2005

January: 8 | 22

February: 5 | 19

March: 5 | 19

April: 9 | 23

May: 7 | 28

June: 25

July: 9 | 23

August: 6

September: 3 | 17

October: 1 | 15 | 29

November: 12 | 26

2006

January: 14 | 28

February: 11 | 25

March: 11

May: 6

June: 3 | 17

July: 1 | 15 | 29

August: 26

September: 9 | 23

October: 7 | 21

November: 4 | 18

December: 02 | 16

2007

January: 13 | 27

February: 10 | 24

March: 10 | 24

April: 7 | 21

May: 5 | 19

June: 2

July: 14 | 28

August: 11

September: 22

October: 06 | 20

November: 3 | 17

December: 1

2009

March: 28x

x

2010s

2010

June: 19

July: 3 | 31

September: 11

October: 23

November: 6

December: 4 | 18

2011

January: 1 | 29

February: 12 | 26

March: 12 | 26

April: 9 | 23

May: 7 | 21

June: 4 | 18

July: 2 | 16 | 30

August | October | November | December

2012

January | February | March | April

May | June | July | August

September | October | November | December

2013

January | March | April |

May | June | July | August |

September | October | November | December

2014

January | February (final monthly issue)

October

2015

October

2016

May | October

2017

May | October

2018

May | November

2019

May |

Notes

Some of the 1910s papers include individual supplement sheets, and some issues in the post-60s period include supplements.

Many of the authors writing around the 1950s and ’60s used initials rather than their full names. Some of these are listed below, though are occasionally only one letter (so suggested names may not be accurate):

DR: Donald Rooum

PS: Philip Sampson

CW: Colin Ward

JR: John Rety

H: John Hewetson?

GO: Geoffrey Ostergaard

In the 1990s the papers are nine pages. Freedom was actually printed on eight sheets, but page one was split between the “front” and “back” pages, allowing sellers to present a smaller front which opened into a tabloid-sized paper.