Cheng, Rachel K. (2016) “Something radically wrong somewhere”: the kindred of the Kibbo Kift, 1920-1932. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/7693/ Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten: Theses https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] “Something Radically Wrong Somewhere”: The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift, 1920-1932 Rachel K. Cheng M.A. History, B.A. History with a minor in Political Science Submitted in fulfilment of requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History School of Humanities College of Arts University of Glasgow FINAL COPY October 2016 2 Abstract This thesis examines the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift, a co-educational outdoors organisation that claimed to be a youth organisation and a cultural movement active from August 1920 to January 1932. Originally part of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the Kibbo Kift offers rich insight into the interwar period in Britain specifically because it carried forward late Victorian and Edwardian ideology in how it envisioned Britain. Members constructed their own historical narrative, which endeavoured to place the organisation at the heart of British life. The organisation’s internal life revolved around the unique mythology members developed, and the movement aspired to regenerate Britain after the First World War physically and spiritually. This thesis argues Kibbo Kift was a distinctive movement that drew upon its members’ intellectual preoccupations and ideals and inspired its members to create unique cultural artefacts. While the Kibbo Kift was ultimately too politically ambiguous to have lasting political impact on a national scale, examining the organisation offers important insight into intellectual thought and cultural production during the British interwar period. This thesis charts the changes the organisation underwent through its membership and the different trends of intellectual thought brought in by individual members, such as its leader, John Hargrave, brought to the group. It examines the cultural production of the organisation’s unique mythology, which created a distinctive historical narrative. It surveys gender issues within the organisation through the “roof tree”, an experimental family unit, and the group’s increasing anti-feminism. Finally, it considers how Clifford H. Douglas’ economic theory of social credit caused the Kibbo Kift to transform into the Green Shirts Movement for Social Credit and later into the Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 3 Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Figures 6 Acknowledgements 7 Dedication 9 1. Introduction 10 1.1. “Keenness and Common Sense”? The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 1.2. The Historiography of the Kibbo Kift 1.3. Approaching the Kibbo Kift’s History 1.4. This Thesis 2. The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift’s Membership and Target Audience 48 2.1. “If You Stand for Peace”, Then Join the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 2.2. Post-First World War Membership, 1918 to August 1920 2.3. The Advisory Council 2.4. Utopian and Regeneration Membership, 1921 to August 1924 2.5. Social Credit, Open Air Education, and the Kibbo Kift, 1925-1929 2.6. Conclusions 3. Intellectual Thought of the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 99 3.1. Degeneration, Regeneration, and the Intellectual Thought of the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 3.2. John Hargrave's War and His Influences 3.3. Recommended Reading Materials of the Kibbo Kift 3.4. Feminist Debate in the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 3.5. Conclusions 4 4. Mythology of the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 158 4.1. From “Thought-Seed” to Kinlog 4.2. Mythology and Spiritualism in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries 4.3. The Kinlog 4.4. “This Unhappy World”: Music and Liturgy 4.5. Seasonal Celebrations and Mythological Performance 4.6. Conclusions 5. Gender and Domesticity in the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 218 5.1. The Roof Tree Family and Lone Kinsfolk 5.2. The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift as Performance of Separate Spheres? 5.3. Domesticity and the Roof Tree 5.4. Totems and Signs 5.5. Kin Costumes and Habits 5.6. Conclusions 6. Legacies of the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift 271 6.1. “Organisational Adjustments”: The Transformation of the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift into Something Completely Different? 6.2. The Green Shirts Movement for Social Credit, the Social Credit Party of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Issues with Douglas’ Social Credit 6.3. The Woodcraft Folk 6.4. Conclusions 7. Conclusions 313 7.1. “Something Radically Wrong Somewhere”: The Kindred of the Kibbo 5 Kift, 1920-1931 8. Appendix: Totem House Roster 327 9. Bibliography 331 A. Primary Sources in Archives B. Published Primary Sources C. Published Secondary Sources D. Unpublished Theses E. Newspaper Sources Not Listed Under Archives F. Websites and Online Material G. Exhibitions 6 Index of Tables of Figures Table 2.3.1 Advisory Council List 62 Table 2.5.1 Totem House Demographics 88 Table 2.5.2 Paid Dues at Easter 1927-1930 89 Table 2.5.3 Locations with approximately more than one member, April 1930 90 Figure 3.3.1 Chart Showing How All Religions and the Teaching of All the Great Thinkers and Prophets Lead to One Main Idea 127 Figure 5.3.1 Ground Plan for Tribal Training Ground and Camp 231 Figure 5.3.2 Ground Plan for Council Circle 234 Figure 5.3.3 Plan for Large Standing Camp 237 7 Acknowledgements This thesis would not be possible without the always constructive criticism and continuous encouragement of my advisors, Professors Callum Brown and Alexandra Shepard. I am also grateful to Dr. Mark Freeman for his early advisory role and for helping me acclimate to life at the University of Glasgow. My great gratitude goes to my viva committee, Professor Louise Jackson, Dr. Maud Bracke, and Dr. Stephen Marritt, for their invaluable advice and support. I also acknowledge my debt to Professors Thomas Munck and Don Spaeth and Dr. Stuart Airlie for their advice and support. To the staff of the Museum of London, the British Library of Political and Economic Science at LSE, the National Archives, and the University of Strathclyde Archives, thank you for all the help and support. Particularly, I would like to thank Cathy Ross and Beverley Cook for their assistance in person and via email and accommodation of me at the Museum of London. I would also like to thank Chris Judge Smith of the Kibbo Kift Foundation for his time and knowledge, particularly regarding the music of the organisation. Additionally, thank you to Annebella Pollen, Hana Qugana, and Mike Merten for our conversations on the Kibbo Kift, Woodcraft Folk, and related organisations and subjects. I would also like to thank Felicity Cawley and Cris Sarg for regular coffee and encouragement and to Akane Oneyama, Jessie Jacobs, Tejaswi Reddy, Zihan Xiong, Max Quaintmere, and Zhe Xiong for great food and conversation. Thank you to Emma Gold and Kelly Chen who regularly sent encouragement and travelled with me. Also, thank you to my colleagues, Dr. Timothy Peacock, Dr. Catriona Macleod, Dr. Roslyn Chapman, Hannah Connelly, Dr. Fergus Oakes, Paul Goatman, Charlie Lynch, Mary Jacobs, Emily Wallace, and Maëlle Duchemin-Pelletier for your conversation and brainstorming assistance. Thank you, 8 too, to the staff of the School of Humanities and the University of Glasgow for all of your help and assistance over the past three years. And, finally, thank you to all my family and friends back in the United States and Hong Kong for your confidence, love, and patience. 9 Dedication For Tutu and Yeh-Yeh 10 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 “Keenness and Common Sense”? The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift The Kindred of the Kibbo Kift was an organisation that thrived on the personal experiences and ideals of its individual members. It was also a communal body that members gathered around to exchange ideas and ideals. Dedicated members were independently opinionated but collectively collaborative. They worked together in attempts to bring to fruition their individual hopes and dreams for Britain following the First World War. What it meant to be a member of the Kibbo Kift developed in tandem with the overall purpose of the organisation. The Kibbo Kift and its membership waxed and waned together from its founding on 18 August 1920 until the organisation fully transformed into the Green Shirts Movement for Social Credit in January 1932. This outdoors coeducational organisation originally appealed to a variety of people interested in a new and unique forum for expressing unusual ideas, some of which attracted the attention of Special Branch and M.I.5. Ultimately, members envisioned the Kibbo Kift as the solution to the problems of their age. Together, they would be the heralds of a better world. How to bring about a better world meant constantly defining and redefining the purpose of the organisation and of its members. In 1931, a small, tan-coloured 52-page booklet entitled Kibbo Kift was published. It was written by John Hargrave, the founder and Head Man of the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift. Better known within the organisation by his 11 woodcraft name, “White Fox”; he was referred to by both names on the title page of the booklet.