Every year on the 12th May, MO asks people across the country to record their day. This might include what they did at work, what they ate, what they heard or watched, and whatever else they got up to. Anyone based in the UK can send us their diary, and we accept submissions both onlineContinueContinue reading “Get Ready for Our National Diary Day!”
Tag Archives: archive
The Spring 2026 Directive
For our most recent directive we have a combination of in-house topics and collaborations, covering a range of topics. Part 1: Seeking Asylum This is a commission by Dr Ellen Pilsworth and a research team at the University of Reading. Their 4-year research and public engagement project, Nation of Refuge, aims to understand and reimagine Britain’s relationship with refugees. ContinueContinue reading “The Spring 2026 Directive”
What does it mean to be queer every day?
Since 1937 Mass Observation has been recording the everyday thoughts, feelings and opinions of people in the UK. In 1982 the National Lesbian and Gay survey began, inspired by the work of MO, it sought to capture what everyday life was like for queer people living in the UK. This LGBTQ+ History Month, MO isContinueContinue reading “What does it mean to be queer every day?”
Find us on Bookshop.org!
Mass Observation is now a Bookshop.org affiliate! That means that you can now easily shop for books about Mass Observation whilst also supporting local, independent bookstores. We often get asked what books have been written either about Mass Observation, or using Mass Observation material. Now you’ll be able to easily see and buy the latestContinueContinue reading “Find us on Bookshop.org!”
‘Ooh, the rumours!’: Mass Observation and VE Day
In the lead up to the 80th anniversary of VE, Khaleda Brophy-Harmer (PhD Candidate at the University of Southampton), has gone through the archive’s collection of VE day materials to provide insight into how people experienced and wrote about VE day. – On the evening of May 7th, Prime Minister Winston Churchill interrupted radio broadcasting toContinueContinue reading “‘Ooh, the rumours!’: Mass Observation and VE Day”
The Spring 2025 Directive
Spring 2025 Directive Spring Directive 2025 This directive we’re asking our writers to respond to three timely topics. Part 1: COVID-19 Pandemic Reflections Mass Observation has been reflecting back on March 2020. It was the 17th March when we contacted Observers to say we were leaving the office and if we weren’t in touch, toContinueContinue reading “The Spring 2025 Directive”
The Mass Observation Critical Series
What do people believe about death and the afterlife? How does the British public imagine the monarchy and its role in British society and governance? How will the Covid-19 pandemic be remembered? What did it mean to people? How did it feel? In this series of publications, the words and writing of Mass Observers are usedContinueContinue reading “The Mass Observation Critical Series”
Researching MO: Royalty and Monarchy
Royalty and monarchy have always been of interest to Mass Observation. Indeed, it was the public debate surrounding King Edward’s relationship with Wallis Simpson that saw the formation of Mass Observation ‘It was the ‘cross-cutting of feeling through age, class, occupation and the silence of the Press till the crisis came, that helped the foundersContinueContinue reading “Researching MO: Royalty and Monarchy”
Researching MO: House and Home
In our new blog series ‘Researching MO’ we’ll be looking at different ways that MO material is used for research. Approaching the collection can sometimes be daunting, and the stories you’re looking for might not always be in the place you expect! This series will serve as a way in to the collection. Each postContinueContinue reading “Researching MO: House and Home”
Celebrating Family Histories with Mass Observation
Last week Mass Observation shared the words of Carl and Bobbie in a moving festive event. Carl Ward was an American Quartermaster who found himself stationed in Dunmow, Essex during WWII. Whilst there he bet Halcyon Elliott (although she was known as Bobbie by friends and family). Mass Observation is lucky enough to be theContinueContinue reading “Celebrating Family Histories with Mass Observation”