Press Statement Mass Observation 12th May Day Diary Event
In 2025 the Mass Observation Archive will be repeating its national call for day diaries, capturing the everyday lives, thoughts and feelings of people across the UK.
This year we are celebrating creative communities. We are working with libraries, community groups and arts organisations to promote 12th May. People of all ages across the country are invited to take part. We hope that everyone will send us their diary so we can record what life is like in Britain today.
Diaries can be written, typed, drawn, collaged, painted or photographed and capture your 12th May in your own style. The diaries will be stored in the Archive at The Keep in Sussex and be used by a wide range of people for research, teaching and learning.
In 1937 Mass Observation first called for people from all parts of the UK to record everything they did from when they woke up in the morning to when they went to sleep at night on 12th May. This was the day of George VI’s Coronation. The resulting diaries provide a wonderful glimpse into the everyday lives of people across Britain and have become an invaluable national resource for those researching countless aspects of the era.
Mass Observation revived 12th May as a national call in 2010 and has been collecting diaries ever since. One of our valued volunteers recently calculated that we have received over 10,000 day diaries since 2010. They are a joy to receive and to read and are an invaluable record of our lived experience for future generations.
We would be delighted to receive your diary this year.
How to take part – Please visit our dedicated webpage.