Tessera

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick

@mrcwarwick.bsky.social

Archives rich in social and political history from the late 19th century onwards. Follow the MRC for highlights from our collections, details of our online resources and more!

939 Posts44561 Follower 1568 Folgt

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · yesterday

New exhibition installed! In collaboration with @rwldproject.bsky.social, Lives on the Line: Railway Workers, Accidents & Union Action reveals the individuals & communities behind the statistics, & shows how unions provided support for railway workers & their families warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Photograph of the MRC's exhibition space. Big volumes are laid out in the cases closest to the photographer. Railway Work, Life and Death project exhibition banners can be seen in the background.

Photograph of the MRC's exhibition space, looking across one of the display cabinets. Railway Work, Life and Death project exhibition banners can be seen in the background.

Photograph of the MRC's exhibition space. It shows several of the display cases, including a volume of 'Railway Review' and a photograph in the case closest to the camera.

Photograph of the MRC's exhibition space. It shows a tall display case which includes various small items of ephemera, including a collecting tin, perfume cards and a photo of the dog 'Help'.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 5d ago

Too soon?

Happy Hallowe'en from the Modern Records Centre. Pumpkin decorated as Rolf the cat (University of Warwick's most famous feline visitor). Were-Rolf!

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 5d ago

Me, looking rather cute on #NationalCatDay. Note the subtle hint to read 'The Land Worker'. If you want to find out more about 'me' aka Thomas he's on page 17 mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/AAW/...

Photograph of a black cat in a wicker basket. In the background is a calendar or poster stating 'read the Land Worker'.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 6d ago

Waving in the background, one of the Windrush generation of NHS nurses at work in 1959 NUT pamphlet 'The Education Story' was intended to create 'an impression of life in school today' (including hospital provision) It's now online in full at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/NUT/... #HistEd

Photo captioned 'A teacher visits a hospital to teach convalescent children', from a pamphlet called 'The Education Story', published in 1959 by the Schoolmaster Publishing Company Ltd. The image shows a teacher showing a book to a group of children. The ward, including beds, can be seen in the background, attended by nursing staff.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · last wk.

When do the events you remember become part of history? In 2011 3 veterans of the 'Winter of Discontent - Tony Benn, Sir Richard Lambert & Rodney Bickerstaffe - met to discuss the 1978/9 disputes and the (then) contemporary Occupy movement protests Now back online at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Screenshot from film of an event at the Modern Records Centre in 2011. It shows two of the participants - Sir Richard Lambert, former Director General of the Confederation of British Industry, on the left and Tony Benn, former Cabinet Minister, on the right. The event was on the theme of the 1978-1979 series of strikes known as the Winter of Discontent and also looked at the (then) contemporary situation, including the 2007/8 economic crash and protests against inequality by the Occupy movement in 2011.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2w ago

Whilst Bluesky remains our first and abiding love, those flighty enough to want to follow us on more than one platform can now also find us on LinkedIn If you too are being performatively employable on there, give us a follow and SEE MORE ARCHIVES in your feed

Photograph of five women sat and standing round a computer console arrangement seemingly designed by Escher. Four are working on large computers, the fifth is on the phone. It may be the 1980s.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2w ago

Cannot crack. Cannot perish. Will not stick. Cannot be imitated. Cold, wet and miserable on your cycle to work? You need enamelled oilskin.........we bring you 'Stormguard'. This advert featured in 'The Bicycle 100 at Brooklands Motor Track', 24 Jul 1937 mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/NCA/...

Advert for 'Stormguard' enamelled oilskin clothing for cyclists. Features a drawing of a cyclist wearing a cape, leggings and a sou'wester.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2w ago

Castleford playing home and away An unexpected glimpse of a 1913 cultural exchange between a Yorkshire mining community and Germany just before the First World War From the archives of Theobald Voelkel, Castleford glassworker and German political refugee ( mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/SPR/4 )

Two German postcards showing Castleford miners' brass bands in 1913. The top photo shows the band in Yorkshire, the bottom one shows them in Germany (alongside a couple of trophies and a big picture). The postcards are included, unexpectedly, in an archive collection relating to the Yorkshire glass bottle industry, in papers relating to Thomas Voelkel, a German-born glassworker, and his family (document references: MSS.385/4/1-2).

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 3w ago

"Nearly all the housewives mention potatoes" In 1955 799 households described their 'meals in modern homes'. The published survey includes information about the types and times of food consumed, as well as the practicalities of living in a post-war home. #WorldFoodDay

Front cover of pamphlet called 'Meals in modern homes', published by the Council of Scientific Management in the Home (A Specialist Committee of the Women's Group on Public Welfare) in 1955. The publication is included in the archives of the National Association of Teachers of Home Economics and Technology, document reference: MSS.177/5/22.

Double page from 'Meals in modern homes', 1955. A photo of 'A meal in the kitchen' (a woman and two kids) is on the right. The start of a chapter on 'Types and times of meals' is on the left:
"Each housewife who took part in the urban inquiry was asked to fill in a diary record showing a typical day's meals. 351 of the 558 urban housewives returned completed records, and their households cover 1,993 persons. The purpose of the record was to assess the amount of work involved, rather than to obtain information on the food served. The quantities of food and the names of dishes served were not asked for and the contents of the meals were asked only in respect of the mid-day and evening meals. Some housewives gave considerable information, saying exactly what dishes each meal contained, e.g. a mid-day meal of roast beef, roast potatoes, cabbage, Yorkshire pudding, stewed plums and custard, cup of tea. Usually the records gave simply meat, vegetables, pudding, stewed fruit and custard, hot drink. It has been possible to see how many people have a meal at home at mid-day and how many of these have a snack meal.
Ninety per cent of the persons in the households concerned have breakfast at home. Of these nine-tenths have a hot drink, more than half eat a cereal, and about half have toast; nearly half eat a cooked dish (type generally unspecified), in addition to, or instead of, a cereal. Only two persons are mentioned as having fruit, which was orange juice for children in both cases. Marmalade is mentioned only four times and jam not at all; these may however have been taken for granted.
A mid-day meal is served in all but 5% of the households. Of the total number of persons, three-quarters have a mid-day meal at home. In some instances this meal is a snack of left-overs from the day before, or an egg (usually poached), a cheese dish (such as macaroni cheese or Welsh rarebit), sandwiches, cake, biscuits and a hot drink..."

Double page from 'Meals in modern homes', 1955. A photo of a 1950s kitchen is on the left. Part of a chapter on 'Types and times of meals' is on the right:
"...In nearly all cases where fish is mentioned, it is served with chips. Made-up dishes, whether from fresh or cooked meat, are also rarely mentioned, the few cases being steak and kidney pie or pudding, curry, cottage pie and rissoles. Nearly all the housewives mention potatoes; 10 per cent refer to chips, other methods of cooking rarely being specified. Of the households mentioning two vegetables, rather more than a third specify green leafy vegetables and a tenth tinned peas.
About 60 per cent of the puddings are milk puddings; others mentioned are mainly steamed puddings and stewed fruit.
“Tea” is “just a cup,” tea with toast, bread and butter, jam and cakes or “high tea,” which includes also a cooked dish. Tea is served in two-thirds of the households and about half of these are high teas.
The distinction between tea-meals and supper-meals was often difficult to make, as tea is usually taken with all meals served at tea-time or later. Two-course meals, eaten at 5 p.m. or later, were classified as suppers. Where lighter meals, including one cooked dish and therefore similar to a high tea, were entered as “supper” by the housewives, they are referred to as “light suppers.” Some persons have a high tea and also cooked food again for supper and some quite heavy meals are taken late at night.
About three-quarters of the households have a supper as distinct from a bed-time snack. Of this number, just over half have a substantial meal, and the rest a light supper. In some instances the housewives state that food is re-heated from mid-day and, in many cases, supper appears to have the same content as mid-day meals..."

Double page from 'Meals in modern homes', 1955. It shows two photos of living arrangements in 1950s houses: 'A meal in the living room' (two adults and three children around a table, a large cat or smallish dog appears to be washing its' bits by the fire) and 'Space is made for a table in the kitchen' (a fraught-looking mother standing by the cooker is talking to a fidgety girl sitting at a laid kitchen table).

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 3w ago

'Justice not Charity' In 1890-1, women ropemakers at Frost Brothers, East London, walked out for better conditions in a strike that captured hearts & minds Newly digitised archives on the dispute (inc. minutes & letters) are available through our catalogue at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/ELR

Balance sheet for 'Ropemakers' Strike Fund (Women)' between 6 November 1890 and 24 January 1891.

Letter from 'An Irish Conservative', dated 19 December 1890:
"Dear Miss Hicks
I enclose P.O for 5/ a small contribution from "A Liberal Friend" and myself in support of the Messrs Frost's ropemakers. It seems to me that instead of giving Christmas dinners and such like to the workers it is much better to help those who are striking at the cause of much of the poverty that prevails. Wishing I could have given larger help".

Page of notes for a speech in support of the striking East London ropemakers:
"of labour, little pay
Home duties,
Justice, not Charity
right to live
hope for their Children
80,000 who are the
daughters & sisters of
our working men driven
to their life & death because it
must be that or starvation
let philanthropists know"

Front cover of a membership card for East End (London) Ropemakers' Trade Union, founded in November 1889. It includes the names of the trade union officers:
President: H.H. Champion
Treasurer: Stephen Fox
Hon. Secretary: Amie Hicks
Trustees: Miss C. Black and Mrs J. Burns

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 3w ago

Pick your pin... Badges - the essential 1970s / 1980s political accessary This Rock Against Racism carnival programme gives a snapshot of some of the pin badges doing the rounds in 1978

Front and back covers of Anti Nazi League / Rock Against Racism programme for Carnival 2, held at Brockwell Park, London, on 24 September 1978. The front cover shows a target (mostly red and orange) with a red ANL arrow pointing towards the centre. The back cover shows a selection of pin badges with anti-Nazi slogans, including 'Gays Against Nazis', 'Nazis are No Fun', 'Rock Against Racism', 'Women Against Nazis', 'Here to stay. Here to fight', 'Skateboard Against Racism' and 'Pogo on a Nazi'.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 4w ago

Advanced planning underway...

OldRailwayAccidents@rwldproject.bsky.social · 4w ago

Full-on analogue exhibition planning at Railway Work, Life & Death project base ... Destination: @mrcwarwick.bsky.social - coming soon! #RailwayHistory

Graph paper, scissors, and ruler, on a spotty table cloth.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 4w ago

Bloomers & bicycles: a perfect combination! The 'New Woman' shown here leaving her husband with the washboard, two kids & an order for dinner (late #19thc / early #20thc) More feminism, bicycles & rational dress at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Postcard with the caption 'The New Woman. Have dinner ready at one o'clock, John!'. It shows a woman in bloomers & a straw hat about to wheel out a bicycle from a living room. Her husband is using the washing machine and two small children are playing on the floor.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 4w ago

"Cable Street was a sight for sore eyes..." Fresh from the streets, this short, vivid account describes the Battle of Cable Street from the perspective of a young activist This edition of Trotskyist journal 'Youth Militant' was published within days of the anti-fascist action on 4 October 1936

Front cover of the Trotskyist publication 'The Youth Militant', 'the fighting journal for socialist youth', October 1936 (then on sale for one pence) [document reference: MSS.15X/1/343/1].

Article about the Battle of Cable Street in 'The Youth Militant', October 1936:
"THEY SHALL NOT PASS!
All who were present in East London on Sunday October 4th, at the great counter demonstration of the workers to Mosley's threatened march, will long remember the scenes they witnessed. Workers, Jewish and Gentile alike, rallied from all parts of London to bar the streets of working class London to the Fascist thugs.
At Gardiners Corner a dense mass of workers collected, flooding into the surrounding streets, and voicing their determination that Mosley should not pass. The Fascists had carried their provocating propaganda well into the East End, and in an attempt to invade the streets had called out the mass resistance of the workers.
It was obvious that the Fascists could not possibly get through, and the crowd on the whole was apparently perfectly prepared to wait until he tried. The Police however thought otherwise. It seemed that the Police Chiefs were frightened that if their men were allowed to stand about doing nothing they would become demoralised, and in consequence much unnecessary batoning took place. The "Cossacks" in fact did not trouble about trying to push the crowds back with their horses, but came at the crowds with drawn batons on every opportunity.
Cable Street was a sight for sore eyes. Barricades made up of anything that came to hand, paving stones torn up, the concrete of the road littered with broken glass, it would have required more than a demonstration to get down that Street.
Leman Street - tall and forboding, cordons of Police thrown across the road at regular intervals. 5 policemen swing down the road frogmarching one girl, and protected by about fifteen other cops on foot and some half-dozen cossacks. As they pass an open window a cossack mounts the pavement and shouts at the occupant. Five or six policemen charge through the door and come out in a few minutes with the occupant, struggling furiously..."

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 4w ago

🚨 New archive account on Bluesky 🎉 Welcome to Keble College Archives!

Keble College Archives@keblecollarchives.bsky.social · 4w ago

Welcome to Keble College Archives’ account. Follow us for news and highlights from our archives, including both institutional records and personal papers.

OldRailwayAccidents @rwldproject.bsky.social · last mo.

Looking forward to this afternoon's meeting, with colleagues at the Railway Work, Life & Death project's partner institution, the @mrcwarwick.bsky.social. We're planning a project exhibition later this year, drawing on records of the ASRS/NUR Union (now @rmtunion.bsky.social) - watch this space!

Charity flag, sold by the NUR, to raise money for its orphans fund. Rusty metal pin, with white paper flag. Front shows a green steam engine, with 'Railway orphans' in red written around it.

Charity flag, sold by the NUR, to raise money for its orphans fund. Rusty metal pin, with white paper flag. Rear shows red text, reading 'National Union of Railwaymen. 2253 children supported in 1916. Annual cost £12,739. 1s. 9d.'

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · last mo.

Moments on Moscow streets 101 years ago Henry Sara's photos capture the Soviet Union in a period of uncertainty, 8 years after the revolution and a year after Lenin's death These images and more are online at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Moscow street scene taken in 1925. The driver of a horse-drawn cab or cart is caught staring back at the camera.

Photograph of children on a street corner in Moscow, taken in 1925. One is wearing a Red Army hat and lighting a cigarette.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Miss Varley kicks off ⚽ In 1913/4 textile workers at Chipping Norton's Bliss Tweed Mill embarked on an 8 month strike over union recognition Workers' Union organiser Joan Varley was a key figure in the dispute (and had a knack for a photo opportunity) More images at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Printed photo of a woman in a tailored jacket, long skirt and hat standing in the centre circle of a football pitch. She is resting one boot on the ball. A man in a suit and several men dressed in football kit can be seen in the background. Caption: 'Chipping Norton v. Witney Workers' Union, at Witney, 1914. Miss Varley kicking off.'

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

From the 'Safety First' campaigns of the early 20th century onwards, the RoSPA archives are a fantastic source on the history of safety, occupational health and welfare Thanks to the Records at Risk funding scheme for helping to support the transfer of the collection to the MRC!

UK Archive Sector Leadership@uknatarcsector.bsky.social · 2mo ago

We’re delighted to have awarded two new records at risk grants to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (with funding from @britrecs.bsky.social) and The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Read more about their projects here: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec...

A close-up of a hand written note on a torn piece of paper.

Lily Crowther @lilcrowther.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Come and find out more about this next year at our Grassroots exhibition at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum!

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick@mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In 1977 Leamington Anti-Racist, Anti-Fascist Committee was formed to fight racism and provide community support in the Midlands town Looking at anti-racist organisation beyond the big cities? The Committee's archives are a great source on 1970s-80s activism mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/LAR

Photograph taken in the late 1970s, showing a child throwing a ball at a board with the caption 'Nobble a Nazi'. Football related graffiti is on the wall behind.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Leaflet for Leamington Anti-Racist Anti-Fascist Committee, including a photo of campaigners holding posters against local fascist Robert Relf.

Mass Observation Archive @massobsarchive.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Exciting news (well we think so)! We are looking for new people to regularly contribute to our archive! We accept applications from anyone based in the UK who has an interest in sending us their thoughts and opinions about life in the UK. #Skystorians massobs.org.uk/write-for-th...

Write for the archive - Mass Observation Archive

Writing for Mass Observation You can apply to write for the archive here. Current Observers If you are one of our current Observers you may find our handbook for new Observers helpful. This has all th...

massobs.org.uk

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Well worth a look (and great to see our collections represented there too)!

Voices of Motherhood@voicesofmotherhood.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Exciting Update! Our website now includes pages on each of the eight projects we are currently working on 👀 👉 Disabled motherhood 👉 Genetic screening 👉 Grandmothers 👉 Maternal and child welfare associations (1/3)

A magazine article from 1986 called ‘Women, Disability and Reproductive Rights’ which features a photograph of a smiling white woman cuddling her baby. Image courtesy of Beckie Rutherford.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

There are some fantastic galleries, libraries, archives and museums on Bluesky! Do give one of Cornwall's finest a follow (and check the pack for other fine heritage content to fill your feed)

Penlee House Gallery & Museum@penleehousegallery.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Somehow, Penlee House has made it into the GLAM Squad, and we’re absolutely chuffed. Our rather splendid building has been around since 1864, so it’s nice to know we’re still causing a little stir 😉 A huge thank you to whoever added us! Follow and meet some of our fellow GLAMs: go.bsky.app/Ms7endH

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

School meals! Solid glaring from this child of 1960, as she waits for her dinner to be flung onto a plate The National Union of Teachers' archive is a great source on changing attitudes and campaigns relating to food in schools over the past 100 years

Front cover of 1960 National Union of Teachers' pamphlet on school meals. It is illustrated with a photo of a child glaring at the camera, past the hand of an adult about to fling a lump of mash onto an underwhelming looking dinner.

Llafur: The Welsh People’s History Society @llafur.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Join us TOMORROW for our next online event! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Llafur: The Welsh People’s History Society@llafur.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Don't forget to register for our next event in our 1926 and Coalfield Community online series! We have a fantastic line up of speakers discussing 1926 in our archives, libraries and collections. 📅05.09.26 🕰️10am 🎟️Register for free: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1926-and-c...

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Open the rather beige covers of one Trades Union Congress file & you're faced with sketches of servant dreams... In 1938 the National Union of Domestic Workers was formed to campaign for fairer working conditions for servants A faint Cinderella & noticeably narked 'Me' feature in the initial plans

A couple of documents in an open archive file (MSS.292/54.76/10). One item is a sheet from a telephone message pad with notes and sketches for publicity material for a new (in 1938) National Union of Domestic Workers. These include a drawing of a maid with her hands on her hips ('Me') being pointed at by 'Ma'am' and the slogan 'I MUST JOIN ToDAY!'. The other item is a red leaflet issued by the earlier Domestic Workers' Union of Great Britain with the title 'Are you sure you have a character?'. It argues that it should be compulsory for employers to given an open character note or reference for their servants when they change jobs.

Faint sketch of a a woman washing up in a kitchen whilst couples dance and drink in a thought bubble. It's captioned 'Cinderella'.

The Charter for Domestic Workers, issued by the National Union of Domestic Workers in 1938. It includes demands relating to working hours, wages, living accommodation, food, holidays, uniform, visitors, address (how the employer addresses you) and termination of contract.

INDY-HIST @indy-hist.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Chartism Day 19 Sept 2026 Warwick Chartism Day was launched in 1995 by Chartist historian Dorothy Thompson (1923–2011) This year's event is at the Friends Meeting House, Warwick Tickets £12 inc. refreshments and buffet lunch: tinyurl.com/chartismday

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Don't erase history! #EYAErased Montage of selected documents from the Modern Records Centre. Artistic display of erasers absolutely not created by a bored archivist. Explore your archive #ArchivesForAll www.exploreyourarchive.org

Montage of selected documents from the Modern Records Centre in the background. Artistic display of erasers featuring the words 'don't erase history' in the foreground.

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 2mo ago

This weekend Notting Hill Carnival marks 60 years of celebrating culture, history and community. #NottingHillCarnival. This programme cover from 1984 features in the Minority Arts Advisory Service Collection, Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations (CRER). mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/MAA

Cover of the Notting Hill Carnival programme for 1984. Features a photograph of one of the performers in costume.