John Archer was born in Liverpool to a West Indian father and Irish mother. He moved to Battersea in the 1880s and became involved in the political scene. Sitting on the town council as a Progressive he supported such issues as the creation of public baths that the poor of Battersea could use and protested against animal vivisection.
The display relates that on his election as Mayor, Archer received a great deal of attention from the press who were fascinated by the fact that he was black. He was swamped with photographers but refused many requests to have his photograph taken.
It was said at the time that the press photographs of Archer had been altered to make him look less black. Archer himself speaks with dignity and pride about his blackness, and is obviously concious that he has made a historic step in becoming the first black man in Britain to achieve such an office.
 |  | Poster advertising Wandsworth baths. Photo Kate Smith, courtesy Wandsworth Museum. |
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Perhaps the most fascinating part of the exhibition is a reproduction of the Daily Express for November 13th 1913, which repeats at length his speech on being elected.
It recaptures the spirit of the man, speaking with wit and grace, even as he was heckled by one or two members of the council who were clearly displeased that the borough had elected a black man.
"It is a victory such as has never been gained before. I am the proud victor. I am a man of colour."
"Where were you born?" interjected a councillor.
"I think" said the mayor "that you ought to show me after my election the same respect as you would show a white man. I have been charged with not being of the superior race, and it behoves you now that you show that you do belong to the superior race." (ie. by speaking politely, and not making crude racial innuendoes).
He continues: "My election tonight marks a new era. You have made history. For the first time in the history of the English nation a man of colour has been elected mayor of an English borough. That will go forth to all the coloured nations of the world. They will look to Battersea and say "It is the greatest thing you have done. You have shown that you have no racial prejudice, but recognise a man for what you think he has done."
Close up of the Daily Express front page for November 11th, 1913. Photo Kate Smith, courtesy Wandsworth Museum. | |  |
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The display runs at Wandsworth museum until 30th October. You can also find out about John Archer's ally on the Council, Asian Communist MP Shapurji Saklatvala at the museum, or on the Wandsworth Museum multicultural collections page of Untold London.
