Back in the 1960s I spent months in Manchester Central Library researching possible songs for a commemoration concert planned to mark the 150th anniversary of Peterloo - I moved to London before I could complete the project
I discovered that radical political Journals and newspapers ran regular song and poem columns throughout a great deal of the 19th century made up of contributions from those involved in political and social struggle - lterally thousands of songs and poems on microfilm.
My research at the time was assisted by two wonderful activists, Eddie and Ruth Frow (now both deceased) who went on to establish The Working Class Movement Library in Salford - tHe Library still exists and has a website.
In 1994 Ruthe and Eddie published a collection of songs on various aspects of working class history entitled 'Radical and Red Poets and Poetry'
I'm sure you are aware of the work of 'The Charles Parker Archive' in Birmingham Central Library and Banner Theatre, based in Birmingham
Both have a history in political song
Pity Roy Palmer is not still around - he'd be the first one I would have gone to
Good luck
Jim Carroll