Administrative/biographical history

Grattan Puxon has been an activist and campaigner for the rights of the Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) community for over 50 years. He was a founding member of The Gypsy Council and has been heavily involved in international movements aimed at increasing the rights of the GRT community. He has greatly contributed to the running of World Romani Congresses and numerous other international GRT events.

In his early activist years he was involved in the eviction of Orchard Farm, a settlement just outside of Dublin in Ireland. More recently, Grattan was heavily involved in the campaign to stop the eviction of Dale Farm in Essex, which was the home a large number of families and individuals from the GRT community. He became secretary of Dale Farm Housing Association (DFHA) which offered support and guidance for those affected by the eviction and arranged legal representation for the re-housing of Dale Farm residents. Grattan was a public advocate for the campaign, and was featured heavily in the press during this time. Grattan also heavily campaigned for memorials for members of the GRT community which were killed during the holocaust, and fought on behalf of asylum seekers from the GRT community. In addition to his activist and campaign work, Grattan has also written several books relating to the history and experiences of the GRT community. His titles include: ‘Free Born Traveller’, ‘On The Road’ and ‘Rom: Europe’s Gypsies’. Grattan remains an active campaigner for equal rights of the GRT community.

Scope and content

Papers of Grattan Puxon (campaigner and Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) activist), including: papers regarding Ustiben, papers regarding International Roma Day, papers regarding World Romany Congresses, papers and correspondence regarding Grattan Puxon’s working and personal life, papers, press cuttings and correspondence regarding the eviction of Dale Farm, papers and correspondence regarding the Dale Farm Housing Association (DFHA), papers regarding the eviction of other sites, papers regarding the Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) community in the Holocaust and commemoration events, papers, press cuttings and articles regarding the history and experiences of the GRT community, articles and publications written by Grattan Puxon, photographs, slides and negatives of the GRT community, audio-visual materials and recordings regarding the history and experiences of the GRT community, papers regarding human rights and the treatment of the GRT community, papers regarding asylum and refugees papers and press cuttings regarding the eviction of Cherry Orchard and the treatment of the GRT community in Ireland, papers of The Gypsy Council and other GRT groups and organisations, papers and resources regarding the education for Traveller children, Grattan Puxon’s annual diaries, scrapbooks and notebooks regarding campaigns for GRT rights and experiences of the GRT community, contact details and notes regarding individuals and organisations from and/or associated with the GRT community in the UK and abroad, guides and policy papers regarding the GRT community, posters and ephemera regarding campaigns and events organised by the GRT community, and miscellaneous papers regardin the GRT Community (1954-2019).

Quantity

61 boxes, 11 posters and digital material