On the Record at The National Archives

1000 years of history, 1000 years of stories to uncover. The National Archives presents On the Record, a podcast that unearths the real life stories found in our vast collections. Join our experts and special guests as we dig deep into the people behind the paper and bring fascinating stories from more than 11 million records to life. Discover tales of forbidden love, spies, protest, and the everyday people of the past. Follow us on Twitter @UkNatArchives

Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora 10/03/2024

Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora With recruits from across its empire, Britain’s troops in the Second World War were a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic force. Among those involved were more than a quarter of a million soldiers from East Africa and 2.5 million from South Asia, whose contributions to the Allied forces were absolutely essential to the outcome of the war. In this episode of On the Record, host Chloe Lee speaks with Iqbal Singh and Liz Haines, specialists at The National Archives, and writer Sharmila Chauhan about a collection of records relating to the recruitment of soldiers from across Britain’s colonies. Focusing on the languages mobilised in these documents, they discuss records that range from the speeches of British commanders in (romanised) Hindustani, to recruitment posters featuring Swahili and Nyanja. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/SwwLLD /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/33277072

Trailer: Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora 09/26/2024

Trailer: Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora In this episode of On the Record, we take focus on the lesser-told history of the colonial troops, from East Africa and India, that fought for Britain during the Second World War. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/33202142

Untold Stories of D-Day 08/15/2024

Untold Stories of D-Day Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 24,000 soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. What followed was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Their mission: to liberate Europe and defeat Germany. Who were these soldiers? And who worked secretly to plan the operation and ensure its success? In this episode, Chloe Lee speaks to colleagues Sophie Stewart and Alice Bell about the people who contributed to this operation, whose stories we may not be familiar with: a tank driver on the frontline, one of the first black women in the Royal Air Force, and a femme fatale whose coded telegram saved many lives on D-Day. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/32510827

Trailer: Untold Stories of D-Day 08/12/2024

Trailer: Untold Stories of D-Day In this episode, we uncover the untold stories of a tank driver on the frontline, one of the first black women in the Royal Air Force, and a femme fatale whose coded telegram saved lives on D-Day. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/32510562

Robin Hood 05/23/2024

Robin Hood Since the 13th century the legend of Robin Hood has featured in folk songs, tavern stories, pageants, and royal festivals — even Henry VIII once dressed up as him. But what lies behind the legend? And what do our stories of robbing from the rich tell us about life in medieval England? In this episode Chloe Lee speaks to Kathryn Maude, a medieval specialist, and Sean Cunningham, head of medieval records, both at The National Archives. Join them on a journey through a forest of medieval historical records, and perhaps even discover the 'real' Robin Hood. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/31415397

Trailer: Robin Hood 05/20/2024

Trailer: Robin Hood In this episode, we journey through a forest of historical records to discover the 'real' Robin Hood. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/31379752

Pauper Voices 04/25/2024

Pauper Voices It's often impossible to find direct accounts of poor people in the historical record, especially the further back you look. But an extraordinary collection containing thousands of letters written by people in poverty between 1834 and 1900 provides an insight into their lives. In this episode, Chloe Lee speaks to specialist Paul Carter about letters held by The National Archives which were addressed to the Poor Law Board, the British central poor law authority. Together they use these accounts to glimpse into the factories, the workhouses and slums in which so many vulnerable people lived out their lives. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: This podcast is based on the research , a major AHRC-funded project, running from 2018 to 2021, which uses letters from paupers and other poor people, and associated manuscript material such as petitions, sworn statements and advocate letters (those written on behalf of paupers) to investigate the lives of the poor between 1834 and 1900. The Project was led by Professor Steve King (Nottingham Trent University) and Dr Paul Carter, (The National Archives). /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/30948773

Trailer: Pauper Voices 04/22/2024

Trailer: Pauper Voices In this episode, we examine a rare collection which contains thousands of letters written by people living in poverty between 1834 and 1900. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/30880933

Second World War Captives 02/19/2024

Second World War Captives At The National Archives, we hold records that tell fascinating stories of real people who lived through the horrors of the Second World War. In this episode, historians Will Butler, Ela Kaczmarska, and Roger Kershaw explore documents – some of them previously unseen by the public – that describe the experiences of prisoners of war and civilian internees held captive during the conflict. The episode accompanies our exhibition, Great Escapes: Remarkable Second World War Captives, which is open at The National Archives in Kew until July 21, 2024. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/29965403

Trailer: Second World War Captives 02/15/2024

Trailer: Second World War Captives In this episode, we explore unique documents held at The National Archives that tell the stories of prisoners of war and civilian internees held captive during the Second World War. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/29951948

Boston Tea Party 12/14/2023

Boston Tea Party In December 1773, 340 tea chests were hurled into Boston Harbour by a protesting crowd. It was a rebellion that came to be known as the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of revolution and forever changed the course of American history. Now, 250 years later, we reveal some fascinating documents held by The National Archives. Join us as we explore the context of the Boston Tea Party and what documents from the British side reveal. Guests include Daniel Gosling and Ralph Thompson from The National Archives. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/28936873

Trailer: Boston Tea Party 12/11/2023

Trailer: Boston Tea Party In this episode, we examine the British response to the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of revolution and forever changed the course of American history. We reveal some fascinating documents held by The National Archives. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/28936843

Inventions 10/05/2023

Inventions A , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. From s to an amateur tinkering in their garden shed, The National Archives is filled with the history of inventions. In this episode of On the Record at The National Archives, Olivia Gecseg and Katherine Howells look through some fascinating patents and registered designs. They discuss inventors and their methods and explore the fascinating historical contexts behind these technical creations. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/28210166

Trailer: Inventions 10/02/2023

Trailer: Inventions A , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. In this episode of On the Record, we explore fascinating invention patents and registered found in our collection. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/28196531

Women's Land Army 08/17/2023

Women's Land Army Muck-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: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/27712152

Trailer: Women's Land Army 08/14/2023

Trailer: Women's Land Army In this episode, we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army, using The National Archives’ unique collections to reveal fascinating stories of no-nonsense women. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/27710736

Windrush at 75 06/15/2023

Windrush at 75 Reporters, cameras, speeches, and even songs publicised the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush when it docked at Tilbury on June 22, 1948. The ship carried 1,027 people on board, including many passengers from the Caribbean, invited to help rebuild Britain after World War II. In this episode, we're marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush through the lens of several unique records held at The National Archives, including the official passenger list. Hosting this episode is Chloe Lee, a Migration and Citizenship Researcher, and she is joined by specialists Iqbal Singh, Lisa Berry-Waite and Vicky Iglikowski-Broad. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: This episode is part of a season of events and activities to mark the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush on its 75th anniversary. To find out more, visit /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/27080991

Trailer: Windrush at 75 06/12/2023

Trailer: Windrush at 75 In this episode, we highlight the experiences of the Windrush Generation, who travelled to Britain between 1948 and 1971. We explore their challenges and successes, and their influence on British society to mark the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush on its 75th anniversary.  /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/27080739

Coronations 04/27/2023

Coronations From Richard III’s lavish wardrobe to Queen Victoria’s chaotic ceremony, coronations have a rich and fascinating history. For some, a coronation is a once-in-a-lifetime public event; for the new king or queen, it is a display which can set the tone for their reign. In this episode of On the Record released to mark the coronation of King Charles III, our specialists examine records from previous coronations and explore how traditions have formed and changed through the centuries. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: This podcast series is part of a season of events and commemorating the coronation of King Charles III on May 6th. Find out more at /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/26646777

Propaganda 02/16/2023

Propaganda Take a closer look at records of propaganda in our collections. In this episode, we have four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to influence the beliefs of leaders and laypeople. Hear about British and Sinn Féin propaganda in the Irish War for Independence; a Jamaican artist rediscovered thanks to his commissioned propaganda work; a Nazi radio broadcast with a dubious account of the famous St. Nazaire raid; and how the UK used novels during the Cold War. 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. You can share this information with us by visiting . /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/25888791

Trailer: Propaganda 02/13/2023

Trailer: Propaganda In this episode, we’re looking at propaganda in our collections. We share four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to influence the beliefs of leaders and laypeople through newspapers, art, radio, and novels. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/25888710

Treason: Rebellion 11/24/2022

Treason: Rebellion By 1800, there were 300,000 Africans enslaved in the British colony of Jamaica. Despite harsh punishments and low odds of success, communities among the enslaved repeatedly organised and acted throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, starting revolts to overthrow their enslavers. In this episode, we explore how and why enslaved people resisted in the British Caribbean, and then Harvard University Professor Vincent Brown shares the story of Tacky’s Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in this period. 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. You can share this information with us by visiting . /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24999153

Treason: Betrayal and Deception 11/17/2022

Treason: Betrayal and Deception What happens when treasonous plots fail? What happens when innocent people get pulled into dangerous schemes? In this episode, we explore the story of Edward Earl of Warwick, doomed by his father’s crimes, and the Cato Street Conspiracy, a failed plot to kill the entire British cabinet that was followed by a sensational trial. 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. You can share this information with us by visiting . /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24999051

Treason: People, Power and Plot 11/10/2022

Treason: People, Power and Plot The history of English monarchs is a tale brimming with assassination attempts. Queen Elizabeth I thwarted many attempts to replace her with a Catholic monarch, following her excommunication by the Pope. Two hundred years later, King George III acted with compassion after two separate assassination attempts. This is the first instalment of a three-part series exploring treason across the centuries. Episode two will examine the ripple effects of treasonous plots. And finally, in our third episode, we’ll learn how enslaved Africans in the Caribbean revolted in an attempt to overthrow their oppressors and regain their freedom. 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. You can share this information with us by visiting . /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24853587

Trailer: Treason 10/28/2022

Trailer: Treason Delve into centuries of treason in this three part mini-series. Join us as we uncover stories from across the globe, from plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I to enslaved Africans in the Caribbean fighting for their freedom – all explored through a unique selection of history-defining documents, bringing stories of people, power and plot to life. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24805860

Trailer 10/20/2022

Trailer 1,000 years of history, 1,000 years of stories to uncover. The National Archives presents On the Record, a podcast that unearths the real life stories found in our vast collections. Join our experts and special guests as we dig deep into the people behind the paper and bring fascinating stories from more than 11 million records to life. Discover tales of forbidden love, spies, protest and the everyday people of the past. Subscribe now to stay up to date with new episodes. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24744792

Colonial Office Records 08/25/2022

Colonial Office Records The Colonial Office was the government department responsible for Britain’s colonies at various points throughout the 18th to 20th centuries. It issued instructions to colonial governors, authorised expenditures, and determined the broad direction of policy for the Empire. In this episode, we look at three documents that provide insight into the experiences of people living under British rule: a 1921 letter from black sailors in Wales to the Prime Minister inspired by Garveyism; a 17th-century slave-trading ship's journal; and service records of African soldiers fighting in World War I.  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. You can share this information with us by visiting . /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24151632

Trailer: Colonial Office Records 08/22/2022

Trailer: Colonial Office Records In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at Britain’s Colonial Office records. This was the government department responsible for Britain’s colonies at various points throughout the 18th to 20th centuries. We’ll be exploring three stories found in these records, which provide an insight into the experiences of people living under British Rule. /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/24024495

The 1920s: Fashion and Nightlife 05/12/2022

The 1920s: Fashion and Nightlife In this episode, fashion historian Amber Butchart discusses the fashion movements of the 1920s, from rising hemlines to ready-to-wear fashion. Then we tell the story of Kate Meyrick, the Soho Nightclub Queen. Meyrick’s popular clubs were frequently raided, and the records of those raids reveal a lot about what a night out in London was like one hundred years ago. For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our programme explores and shares stories connecting the people of the 1920s with us in the 2020s. This exciting programme includes our new 1920s-themed exhibition in Kew. 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: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/22990721

The 1920s: Migration and Public Health 04/28/2022

The 1920s: Migration and Public Health In this episode, we continue our whirlwind tour through the 1920s by introducing you to some of the fascinating people and movements of the era. We tell the story of two men trying to make a better life in England. Then, in the aftermath of World War I and a deadly influenza pandemic, we look at efforts to improve public health and morality. To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our programme explores and shares stories connecting the people of the 1920s with us in the 2020s. This exciting programme includes our new 1920s-themed exhibition in Kew. 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: /episode/index/show/tnaontherecord/id/22912016

On the Record at The National Archives

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