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Official archive of the UK government. Discover our online collections, research guides and educational resources, spanning 1000 years of history.
Aug 1 12 tweets 2 min read
Today is Emancipation Day. It marks the date in August 1834 that slavery was officially abolished throughout the British Empire, when the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force. (1/12) A printed sheet with the royal coat of arms at the top and the words 'An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies'. Catalogue reference: PC 1/4444 Britain had been a major player in the slave trade, accounting for an estimated 26% of all African people transported to the Americas. Being most dominant between 1640 and 1807, it is estimated that Britain transported at least 3.1 million enslaved people. (2/12)
Apr 4 18 tweets 7 min read
Did you know that we have original records relating to the libel case dramatised in the film Wicked Little Letters?

Please note: this thread contains spoilers for the film and references to strong language. A promotional poster for the film Wicked Little Letters, showing the cast on a dark blue background, including Olivia Colman dressed in a green jacket and yellow hat, and Jessie Buckley in a white dress and Anjana Vasan, Malachi Kirby and Timothy Spall standing behind them. The phrase 'Be careful what you post' in pink lettering is in the centre and the film title 'Wicked Little Letters' - 'In cinemas February 23rd' at the bottom.  [Image credit: Wicked Little Letters, Studio Canal UK ] Edith Swan and Rose Gooding were friendly neighbours in Littlehampton, West Sussex in 1920. But a series of poison pen letters were sent to Edith and suspicion fell on Rose. Court records show Rose was found guilty of libel in September 1921. A yellow printed page depicting convictions showing a listing for Rose Gooding, aged 28, no trade and the offence listed as 'Publishing defamatory libels concerning Edith Emily Swan, well knowing the same to be false, at Littlehampton, on the 2nd July and 1st September, 1920' , the verdict 'Guilty' and the sentence of '14 days without H.L. as an offender of Second Division, and her own Recognizances, and to find one surety severally in £20 for her good behaviour, and to keep the peace for 2 years'.  Image provided by Ancestry. Catalogue reference: HO 140-363
Jun 5, 2023 14 tweets 4 min read
We don't mean to brag, but we've just been voted Richmond's 'Ugliest Building' for the second year running 🎉

mylondon.news/news/zone-1-ne… Perfection ❤️ The National Archives building
Mar 9, 2023 7 tweets 2 min read
Apparently, Bono - the lead singer of U2 - is addicted to visiting archives.

When asked why he hasn't addressed this addiction, he replied:

'But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.' Medieval and early modern scrolls in cloth bags, laying on r Looking to capture a very niche market with this tweet:

➡️Archive Users

➡️ Fans of U2

➡️ Those that 'appreciate' Dad jokes
Mar 8, 2023 6 tweets 2 min read
Florence Nightingale David – a pioneering statistician who carried out vital wartime work which saved many lives during the Blitz.

Let’s explore her story…

HO-196-32 An image of the contents pa... Born in in 1909, David’s parents had been friends with the Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale, who she was named after. She studied Mathematics at Bedford College for Women, going on to join UCL as a research assistant in statistics and completing her doctorate in 1938.
Mar 8, 2023 4 tweets 2 min read
#OTD in 1395 Tadhg Mac Carthaigh Mór, prince of Desmond, one of the major leaders in Connacht in the west of Ireland, followed the Ulster kings in writing to Richard II at Drogheda.

He too mentions conflict with a major English magnate, the earl of Ormond.

#ContestingSpace The Westminster Portrait of... Mac Carthaigh appealed to Richard as a loyal subject, saying that “my ancestors from the time of the Conquest” of Ireland in 1170 have been loyal and that he himself has never waged war against the English.

His wife was Joan, daughter of the English earl of Desmond.
Mar 8, 2023 4 tweets 2 min read
Happy #InternationalWomensDay!

The threads of women’s experiences weave throughout our records; from monarchs to paupers, suffrage campaigners to Black power protestors.

COPY 1/494 A black and white image of ... The voices of men mostly frame our collections, reflecting the historic interests of government and past societies.

However, women have fought to be listened to and have acted as agents for change. When women were disruptive, they have tended to leave archival footprints.
Apr 28, 2022 9 tweets 3 min read
The Titanic Telegram – an iconic set of communications, recording the final hours of the Titanic.

They're a fragile piece of history & their long term preservation a priority.

But how do we balance preservation needs with public access & ensure these records can be seen? The Titanic Telegram The light sensitivity of documents plays a huge role in determining both the conditions and length to which documents can be displayed in exhibitions.

But how light sensitive is the Titanic telegram?
Mar 25, 2022 23 tweets 8 min read
The National Archives has a world renowned collection of documents relating to the women's suffrage movement, particularly relating to the 20th Century.

For #WomensHistoryMonth we thought we'd share some of this history with you…

📷: COPY 1/494 & ZPER 34/143 Annie Kenney and Christabel...Millicent Fawcett pictured ... The wealth of records cross many government departments, illustrating the huge impact, particularly the militant suffrage campaign, had on government business.
Dec 30, 2021 6 tweets 2 min read
How did Tony Blair define the principles of New Labour?

'Its values are Labour values - justice, equity, compassion, a belief in community and society, solidarity - in the end, they all come down to 'fairness', and for all, not a few'

📷: PREM 49-244 Page 1 of New Labour Notes, written by Tony Blair 'Its political genesis is a synthesis between the historical positions of left and right. It is too simplistic to say it adopts 'left' values but is rightwards in how to achieve them.

📷: PREM 49-244 Page 2 of New Labour Notes, written by Tony Blair
Dec 29, 2021 6 tweets 1 min read
The National Archives Wrapped 2021

No prizes for guessing which product had the most sales onsite at our shop. National Archives branded pencil To be fair, it’s a great pencil and, we’re told, it produces beautiful archival notes.
Sep 14, 2021 14 tweets 4 min read
The majority of records relating to sex work in the archives are about female sex workers; however, there have also always been men who have sold sex, predominantly to other men.

📷: MEPO 3/2136 List of male importuners, detailing the results of being arr Men engaged historically in sex work faced a double stigma. Both homosexuality and sex work were controversial in their own right.

Despite this, reports of male sex work and male brothels had been longstanding and, at times, prominent in the public eye.
Sep 14, 2021 6 tweets 2 min read
Never fails to make us smile It’s not just any pencil, it’s a National Archives pencil Black pencil branded with The National Archives
Sep 12, 2021 5 tweets 2 min read
Watching @EmmaRaducanu win her maiden Grand Slam title last night reminded us of another women's tennis champion, Lottie Dod.

Much like Emma, Lottie also achieved success at an incredibly young age. She was just 15 when she won the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles championship in 1887 Lottie Dod playing tennis. ... Lottie remains the youngest ever ladies Wimbledon champion and apparently spent much of her career playing tennis in a metal-and-whalebone corset while on court.

Ouch!
Sep 11, 2021 8 tweets 4 min read
In the 1920s and 1930s queer clubs & spaces were vulnerable to police raids.

Makeup was seen as a sign of effeminacy & therefore homosexuality.

Police would use blotting paper to test for powder & rouge.

📷: CRIM 1/1041 Make-up traces collected by police, 1938. CRIM 1/1041 At the LGBTQ+ friendly Caravan Club, described in the 1930s as ‘London’s greatest bohemian rendezvous’, patrons regularly wore make up.

📷: MEPO 3/758 & DPP 2/224 Ticket for the Caravan Club, Endell Street, London 1934 (catInterior of The Caravan Club, Endell Street, London 1934 (DP
Sep 9, 2021 5 tweets 2 min read
Sep 9, 2021 4 tweets 2 min read
These flyers and pamphlets were produced by the Central Office of Information in the 1960s as part of a campaign to reduce drink driving.
#COI75 #CollectionsUnited A flyer in the shape of a C... They focused particularly on the Christmas period when numbers of alcohol-related road accidents were particularly high.
Apr 28, 2021 28 tweets 9 min read
Lesbian identities are often difficult to uncover in the archive.

Unlike male homosexuality, sexual relationships between women were never criminalised, which led to less visibility. But their stories and experiences are awaiting discovery.

A thread for #LesbianVisibilityWeek Our collection holds rich material relating to same sex relationships between women.

To celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week, we thought we'd highlight some of our key records.