Arthur Marsh was a Fellow in Industrial Relations at St. Edmund Hall Oxford. He read Modern History and PPE at Oxford University, before joining the Oxford University Agricultural Economics Research Institute; later he became a staff tutor at the Oxford Delegacy for Extra Mural Studies, where he specialized in trade union education. He was elected Senior Research Fellow at St. Edmunds Hall in 1964. Mr Marsh served on various commissions and acted as a consultant to many government bodies. He was the author of many books and papers and began to publish the Historical Directory series in 1984. He died on 2 August 1999. John B. Smethurst is a retired electrical engineer and a graduate of Sheffield and Warwick Universities. He was a founder member of the Eccles and District Local History Society and the Lancashire Federation of Local History Societies. The author of numerous papers and articles on the Labour movement, he is the membership secretary of the North West Labour History Group and a well known collector of Labour, co-operative and trade union memorabilia.

• Contents: Foreword, Asa Briggs; Introduction; Preface. Part 1 Print, Paper and Publishing: England and Wales; Ireland; Scotland. Part 2 Domestic Service: Wholesale and retail and distribution; Costermongers and street traders; Bakers; Millers; Soft drinks and brewery workers; Butchers, poulterers and fishmongers; Domestic servants; Barbers and hairdressers; Hotel, restaurant and catering staff; Finance industry - banking staff organisations; Finance industry - building society staff organisations; Finance industry - insurance staff organisations; Others; Sports and entertainment; Window cleaners and chimney sweeps. Part 3 Agriculture. Part 4 Public Employees: Manual workers; Local government staff organisations; Education. Part 5 General Workers. Part 6 Staff Associations: Aerospace; Engineering and allied industries; Food, drink, tobacco; Other Manufacturing industries; Retail and other. Appendix; Index.

'Clearly presented in five sections, it provides an indispensable resource.... Such diligence was the product of over fifteen years' hard work.... a remarkable and invaluable resource. All libraries and research institutions should acquire a copy.' North West Labour History 'As a tool for research it is invaluable and includes a bibliography of Irish Trade Union History as an Appendix.' Socialist History Society Newsletter ’This series is unique, an unmatched source of reliable data on trade unions and kindred bodies in Britain and Ireland, compiled with authority, competence and scholarship. It justifies the price, and is indispensable for all with an interest in working-class history and in the institutions of our evolving society.’ Reference Reviews ’Volume 5 of the Historical Directory of Trade Unions is a handbook and a source which is unlikely ever to be surpassed in the areas it covers. It is an invaluable book of reference for Labour historians and deserves to be on the shelf of any library dealing with labour or trade union history and added to the collection of every researcher studying industrial organisation in the areas with which it deals.’ Labour Heritage ’The fifth volume of the Historical Directory project is a veritable triumph over considerable adversity ... a treasure trove of information, invaluable to those seeking explanations of trade union genealogy, unidentified badges, signposts to mergers, amalgamations and other trade union activities.’ Saothar