Stories from the collection

Unexpectedly surviving among some court papers, this medical belt was one of a number of Victorian devices that claimed to use the power of electricity to cure.

In 1941, four Government Code and Cypher School cryptanalysts, including Alan Turing, made a stunning appeal directly to Winston Churchill.

How did an Indian prince come to play at the highest level of England’s national sport?

This letter is an example of those in our collection detailing Indian and Pakistani Independence, but from a lesser-known voice, Sudhir Ghosh.

In July 1940 the Arandora Star was torpedoed by a German submarine. More than 800 people were killed, many of them Italian civilians being deported to Canada.

This document records the first time that citizens outside of the elites were invited to join an English parliament – without being asked to support new taxes.

In December 1978, Vietnamese refugees seeking asylum aboard the Huey Fong were refused entry to Hong Kong. Records we hold document the 34-day standoff.

Until 2021, the census did not ask for information about sexuality. One letter in our collection gives a personal perspective on why this data was needed.

This unexpected gem is a document granting land in Ireland to a John Farrell. Attached is the Great Seal of Ireland, indicating approval from King Charles II.

Sophia Jex-Blake (1840–1912) was a physician and campaigner who fought for women’s access to university education.

A life of charm, high-stakes, and duplicity saw Elvira Chaudoir play a cunning role in the Allied victory at D-Day.

Did you know that the word ‘camp’ was used by members of the LGBTQ+ community as early as 1868?