Administrative/biographical history

Grattan Puxon, an active campaigner for over sixty years, joined the Paris-based movement led by Vaida Vojvod [Ionel Rotaru] and Vanko Rouda, back in 1964 after he fled to Ireland to avoid military service. On his return in 1966 he set up The Gypsy Council and five years later helped organized the 1st World Romani Congress. Elected general-secretary, Puxon served through two more Congresses, in Switzerland and Germany.

In Ireland, he led Travellers in the occupation of twenty-six acres of land which became known as Cherry Orchard. They had together faced many evictions, and the burning of their make-shift school. A second St.Christopher's was built at the bigger camp.

Puxon was heavily involved opposing the siege of Dale Farm in Essex, which was the home of close on a thousand Travellers and the central target in the Tory Government's "stamp on the camps" policy. Having co-authored the first standard work on the Nazti genocide against the Romani people [Desting of Europe's Gypsies, Heinemann 1972], he demanded unsuccessfully the inclusion of Roma members in David Cameron's UK National Holocaust Commission. At the same time, annual genocide commemorations were held on 2 August, in Hyde Park.

He has also translated that history into Romanes under the title Bersha Bibahtale [Years of Misfortune], and penned a novel about his experiences in Ireland called Freeborn Traveller. Those experiences included his arrest for possession of explosives and membership of an illegal organization. Trumped up charges which were later dropped.

Scope and content

Papers of Grattan Puxon (Romani movement activist), include those concerning The Gypsy Council, World Roma Congresses, Roma Nation Day celebrations, papers regarding World Romany Congresses, and numerous eviction battles; his life in Yugoslavia and sojourn in the Romani township of Shuto Orizari, Skopje, where he married Sanije Ibrahim, former member of the folkdance ensemble Phralipe [Brotherhood]. A two-year ban imposed by Jugoslavia was followed by periods in Germany, Greece and the United States.

The Archive contains papers, correspondence and pictures regarding Grattan Puxon’s working and personal life; papers, press cuttings and correspondence about the eviction of Dale Farm, and numerous other confrontations, including arrests. Articles and publications written by Puxon; photographs, slides and negatives, audio-visual materials and recordings regarding the history of the Romani movement. There are diaries, scrapbooks and notebooks, contact details and notes regarding individuals and organisations from associated leaders and activists, both in the UK [where he returned in 1993] and abroad; guides and policy papers , posters and items related to campaigns and events.

In the latter period of his life, Puxon has devoted his energies to the revival of the World Romani Congress, which after a dozen events was weakened by the division of the IRU into three rival entities. Initially involved with the mass expulsion of Roma from Kosovo [1998-9], he turned his attention in 2021 to the 50-year Jubilee of the Congress, followed by the 2023 Berlin Congress.
In 2025 plans were in hand for the next Congress to take place in Brazil. It was intended that this Congress be the first to be linked to a global election system, allowing Roma in all parts of the Diaspora to participate. Puxon chaired the Democratic Transition team.

Meanwhile, Puxon has prepared a history of his active years entitled Roma Nation Rising.

[Publication is expected within a year and an electronic version could be made available to the Bishopsgate Institute]

Quantity

61 boxes, 11 posters and digital material