The story of
Louis Wain
Artist and illustrator Louis Wain (1860–1939) achieved great fame for his whimsical drawings of cats, but his story is also a sad one of personal tragedy.
Early 20th century (1901–1918)
The period spanning the Edwardian era to the end of the First World War saw many aspects of life transformed. Our records document developments in art, design and technology, as well as huge societal shifts brought on by global conflict and women’s fight for the vote.
Stories from the collection
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The story of
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: a trailblazing composer
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912) was a trailblazing British composer and conductor from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. -
Focus on
Battling ‘General Malaria’ on the Macedonian front, 1915–1919
Medical case sheets from the 28th General Hospital, Salonika, reveal an especially deadly peril on the front lines: malaria. How was it fought? -
Record revealed
The Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
The first Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was prompted by the sinking of RMS Titanic. Signed in 1914, it established international shipping standards. -
Record revealed
The Treaty of Versailles
This debated document officially ended the First World War and set out the terms and conditions for peace, and determined the course of the 20th century. -
Record revealed
Photographs of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Copyright photographs of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor provide us with a unique insight into his status in early 20th-century British society. -
Record revealed
List of suffragettes arrested from 1906–1914
More than a thousand people who supported women’s right to vote were arrested for their activism. This document records them – and includes some famous names. -
The story of
Maud Allan
Maud Allan (1873–1956) was a celebrated West End dancer in the early 20th century until she became entangled in one of the most sensational trials of the 1920s. -
The story of
Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) was a tireless political activist, who led the WSPU – the militant faction of the movement for women’s suffrage. -
The story of
Alice Hawkins
Alice Hawkins (1863–1946) was a working class suffragette and trade unionist, who boldly campaigned for the rights of women.