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”
Tag Archives: archive
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”
Upcoming Event: The Carl and Bobbie Letters
“Hope that these letters do outdo the ones to Miss Elliott ‘cause after marrying her, I find her even finer and lovelier than I had imagined, so with so much more inspiration I should do better.” – Carl, 4 October 1944 We are delighted to announce our upcoming event, The Carl and Bobbie Love LettersContinueContinue reading “Upcoming Event: The Carl and Bobbie Letters”
The Joyce Spurr Collection
Since 1981, in parallel with the Mass Observation Project, MO has collected personal papers donated by individuals, including diaries, letters, photograph albums, scrap books, autobiographies and other personal and family documentation. Joyce photographed in Egypt (SxMOA99/168/1/3) One such collection is the Joyce Spurr collection. Joyce (b.1921) lived in Sheffield before and after the Second WorldContinueContinue reading “The Joyce Spurr Collection”
Transcribing Covid-19
By Emily Warwick As a University of Brighton Masters student I have been volunteering with the Mass Observation Archives at The Keep as part of my course. The team have been incredibly welcoming and are really helpful if I have any enquiries on something I haven’t encountered it before. As part of my time spentContinueContinue reading “Transcribing Covid-19”
Meet the Mass Observers
Interview with Clare, J7229 Ever since its inception Mass Observation has relied on volunteers writing down their thoughts, feelings and experiences to help record everyday life in Britain. Without our writers, our Mass Observers, Mass Observation simply doesn’t exist, especially in its current form. Yes! We are still going! In fact, there are currently 500ContinueContinue reading “Meet the Mass Observers”
Meet the Mass Observers
Interview with T5672 In this new series we’ll be sharing the stories of the people that make the Mass Observation’s project possible, our writers, also known as ‘Mass Observers’. The Mass Observers are volunteers who give their time to share their thoughts, feelings and opinions with the archive. Some writers contribute over decades and someContinueContinue reading “Meet the Mass Observers”
“I am not Interested in the Coronation”: Similarities and Dissimilarities in Mass Observation’s 12th May Diaries from 1937 and 2023
By Emily Calcraft Introduction On 12th May 1937 a Day Survey Respondent from Oldham stated: ‘I am not interested in the Coronation and regard all the fuss as artificial and irrational’. In May 2023, the Coronation of Charles III led to a media frenzy that stirred up the ‘culture wars’, between Royalists and Republicans; theContinueContinue reading ““I am not Interested in the Coronation”: Similarities and Dissimilarities in Mass Observation’s 12th May Diaries from 1937 and 2023”