LGBTQ+ Histories
On the Record at The National Archives
In this episode, we bring you four stories that span two hundred years of British history. Two women leave their families to make a new life together in Wales in 1780, a Manchester drag ball in 1880, a secret gathering space for gay men in 1920s London, and a community archive collected by Black LGBTQ+ Londoners. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you’re interested in. Visit:
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Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
On the Record at The National Archives
On Tuesday, May 8th, 1945, the Allies who had been fighting the Second World War formally accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender. May 8th became known as Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, and is still marked every year. In this episode, host Chloe Lee is joined by Will Butler, a specialist in British society during the First and Second World Wars, to explore what that first VE Day was like, from the soldiers and medics who’d been at the frontline, to the folks at home who wanted peace — and for butter to be easily available again in British towns and cities.
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Trailer: Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
On the Record at The National Archives
In our next episode, we explore what Victory in Europe Day (or VE Day) was like, from the soldiers and medics who’d been at the frontline, to the folks at home who wanted peace — and for butter to be easily available again in British towns and cities.
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MI5: Official Secrets
On the Record at The National Archives
Spy fiction has captivated our imagination for decades, but the truth behind Britain's security service is even more fascinating than the high-stakes capers of the movies. At The National Archives, we hold the real files—declassified documents that reveal the actual operations, successes, and sometimes failures of MI5 since its creation in 1909. In celebration of our new exhibition featuring these secret files and spy gadgets, this episode delves into the real world of espionage – one perhaps more intriguing than fiction. Our guests include Gill Bennett, a historian...
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Trailer: MI5 Official Secrets
On the Record at The National Archives
In our next episode of On the Record, we uncover the fascinating stories behind the UK’s security service, MI5. To celebrate our new exhibition featuring formerly secret files and spy gadgets, we delve into the real world of espionage – one perhaps more intriguing than fiction.
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Working Women in History
On the Record at The National Archives
To mark Women’s History Month, we take a long view of working women. Our guest host, Jessamy Carlson invites three historians to explore the lives of working women over the centuries. From the working lives of medieval women, through the story of the first Women Patrols in the Metropolitan Police, to the striking Ford factory workers in 1968, this episode examines women's jobs, their conditions, their struggles, and their resilience. .
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Trailer: Working Women in History
On the Record at The National Archives
Join us for Women’s History Month as we explore the lives, struggles, and resilience of working women through the centuries.
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Secrets of the Prize Papers: Echoes of Empire
On the Record at The National Archives
The National Archives holds over 4,000 boxes of letters, papers, and artefacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815. Join us for the conclusion of our three-part series diving deep into the fascinating Prize Papers collection. In this episode, Chloe Lee takes a step back from the ship logs and scrawled letters to uncover the grand tapestry of colonialism, empire building, and trade. With insights from experts Lucas Haasis and Annika Raapke-Öberg, we explore the intricate and often surprising history of the high seas. For a transcript and information about the documents...
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Secrets of the Prize Papers: The Science of History
On the Record at The National Archives
The National Archives holds over 4,000 boxes of letters, papers, and artefacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815. In the second episode of our three-part series on the Prize Papers collection, Oliver Finnegan explores the scientific techniques and conservation skills used to analyse these items. Guests Marc Vermeulen and Marina Casagrande discuss examining and reading letters without opening them and the discovery of a well-preserved centuries-old knitted jumper. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes:
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Secrets of the Prize Papers: Trade, Loot and Letters
On the Record at The National Archives
Across more than 4,000 boxes in The National Archives sits a significant collection of letters, papers and artifacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815. In this first episode of a three-part series, Chloe Lee meets Oliver Finnegan, a specialist in what is known as the Prize Papers collection. Oliver tells Chloe about some of the most fascinating items in the collection, providing insights into global trade, warfare, and the everyday lives of the people who lived during the Age of Sail. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit...
info_outlineMuck-spreading, rat-gassing, carrot-pulling — all in a day’s work for a land girl! You probably know the land girls as plucky young women who rolled up their sleeves and kept Britain’s farms running during the Second World War.
In this episode, we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army using unique collections at The National Archives. Discover fascinating stories of everyday bravery and the no-nonsense women who were enlisted in what the Ministry of Information called the ‘Battle for Bread’. Hosting this episode is Vicky Iglikowski-Broad, a Principal Records Specialist in Diverse Histories, and she is joined by specialists Cherish Watton, Chloe Lee and Katherine Howells.
For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/WLA_1