Focus on
'Can we be counted too?' Recognising LGBTQ+ lives in the 1991 census
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.
Browse and explore the human stories behind The National Archives’ collection.
Focus on
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.
Record revealed
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.
The story of
Sophia Jex-Blake (1840–1912) was a physician and campaigner who fought for women’s access to university education.
The story of
A life of charm, high-stakes, and duplicity saw Elvira Chaudoir play a cunning role in the Allied victory at D-Day.
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Did you know that the word ‘camp’ was used by members of the LGBTQ+ community as early as 1868?
The story of
Singer and broadcaster Evelyn Dove (1902–1987) achieved a number of firsts including, in 1925, becoming the first woman of African heritage on BBC Radio.
Record revealed
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
This letter details the circumstances of the strange disappearance of famous author Agatha Christie in 1926.
The story of
14-year-old cabin boy John Giles Hipkin became Britain's youngest Second World War prisoner of war in 1941 after he was captured at sea.
Record revealed
This ordinary will from 1587 gives us a glimpse of an Elizabethan woman’s concerns on her deathbed.
Record revealed
How do you reward a medieval poet? This document granted the author of the Canterbury Tales an unusual royal gift: a daily allowance of wine.
The story of
In 1888, the women and girls employed by Bryant & May in the East End of London went out on strike. Why did these workers feel so driven to remove their labour?