We've just sent our latest directive out! Our three topics this time are 'Wealthy and the Rich', 'Corruption' and 'Books'. You can read the full directive, including info on our comissioners and collaborators, over on our website: massobs.org.uk/pastdirectiv...

List of past directives - Mass Observation Archive

massobs.org.uk

We've been a bit quiet recently whilst we've been busy cataloguing all the wonderful 12th May diaries we received! We're pleased to say we've finished cataloguing all 287 diaries that were submitted via our online form 😅 If you're interested in viewing them, drop us an email! 💻

Woman's Own 1952 really putting a pep in our step this Monday morning...

In 1947, as Europe was recovering from the Second World War, there was uproar. Was this a reaction to a political scandal? Was this caused by the economic fallout of the war? The answer may surprise you. Our placement student Amy from @qmul.bsky.social investigates! massobs.org.uk/2026/06/03/w...

We're currently up to just under 500 12th May diaries 😅 So far 156 have come in the post, but only ONE has had a wax seal

We had 12 college students with us yesterday for a crash course in archive work! At the end of the day we asked them what their highlights were, and here they are in their own words:

These pictures come from Natalie, a PhD student in social anthropology at @manchester.ac.uk conducting 12-months ethnographic fieldwork in the tourist and entertainment industry in Blackpool. Natalie has been out and about promoting our 12th May diary day as part of her research!

8.30, Me in my bed. 11.50, Me in my car. 11.55, Me ate the sea. 4.15, Me on my trampoline. 5.20, Me having a Barecyuw. 8.15.

If you weren't able to make it to our online talk yesterday with Stella Moss and Phyllis Macfarlane from @amsruk.bsky.social (and kindly chaired by @historitage.bsky.social), do not fear! You can catch up on all you missed on our YouTube channel! www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... #skystorians

The Way We Lived Then Post ‑War to the 1970s – Gender, Generation and Change - YouTube

A series of talks exploring the ways that women's drinking habits and use of pubs has changed from the Second World War to the 1970s and how different consum...

youtube.com

A reminder that we have this event coming up in conjunction with @amsruk.bsky.social which is sure to be fascinating! www.eventbrite.com/e/1982182572...

The Way We Lived Then: Post‑War to the 1970s Gender, Generation and Change

Learn more about the ways our lives changed from the end of the war to the 1970s, exploring gender and generation changes.

eventbrite.com

Our national diary day is getting closer! This year we are keen to hear thoughts and feelings about nature and wellbeing, in addition to the day to day. We accept handwritten and typed diaries, but also photography and sketches, or other creative approaches! #diary #sketch #photography #journalling

What are your favourite songs? What memories do they bring up? This creative writing workshop, designed by students from @sussex.ac.uk, is going to be great! Not only will you get to see our materials but you'll also take part in some guided writing exercises and leave with your own keepsake!

It’s nearly time for our national diary day! Every 12th May we ask people to write down what they got up to. This year we’re also really interested in experiences of nature and wellbeing, as well as what else you get up to on the day! #diary #journal #nature #skystorians #write #Archive

In her new article Tracey Loughran uses MO to see how five women narrate their experiences fertility problems prior to development of IVF. It's a fascinating read! Find it here: academic.oup.com/shm/advance-...

Stories Without Pattern, Lives at the Edge: The Mass Observation Project and Emotional Histories of In/Fertility Before IVF

Abstract. Very little is known about the experience of infertility before the successful deployment of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in the late 1970s. It i

academic.oup.com

Yesterday we sent out our latest directive! For Spring 2026 we have a combination of collaborative topics and in-house questions. Part one is a collaboration with Dr Ellen Pilsworth from @uniofreading.bsky.social, and is on 'Seeking Asylum', part of a 4-year research project, 'Nation of Refuge'.

We're excited for this online talk! We'll be hearing from Ben Highmore (Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies, @sussex.ac.uk), Phyllis MacFarlane (Head of Content, @amsruk.bsky.social) & Stella Moss (Lecturer in Modern British History, @royalholloway.bsky.social ). Book here: tinyurl.com/37sdd74x

New paper: Mass Observing British Politics On what Mass Observation might contribute to political studies (and what political studies might contribute to Mass Observation). With @jmoss88.bsky.social and Alex Hill. Also paging @massobsarchive.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Mass Observing British politics - British Politics

British Politics - The current political moment in Britain is characterised by disaffection, affective polarisation, and populist mobilisation of these (dis)affections. How best to research these...

link.springer.com

The banana, the foodiest fruit of all! Unzipp one today!

Something new has appeared on our AM Digital resource 🧐Instead of stopping at 2009, documents are now available up to 2019! 98 boxes of material went away to be digitised and are now available through the AM digital resource.

Thanks to @massobsarchive.bsky.social for hosting our University of Brighton students yesterday for LGBTQ History Month! We heard abt their growing archive of everyday queer life in the UK, and saw loads of incredible historical materials 🏳️‍🌈 Thanks also to @ctsgbrighton.bsky.social for organising!

Assuming we're all bringing this same energy to our Monday mornings?

A fantastic post from the Museum fo English Rural Life about one of our early writers. We're so pleased to see E.M. Barraud getting this recognition! Do give the article a read!

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)@themerl.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A common fictional narrative shows people with nonconforming identities finding self-acceptance in towns and cities. This #LGBTQHistoryMonth, archivist Lottie Wood explores how author E. M. Barraud found the opposite, through rural work and the Women’s Land Army. merl.reading.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

A huge thank you to everyone who has already sent us their diary of what they got up to on the 12th February for #LGBTplusHM #lgbthm26! If you haven't sent us your diary and would like to, remember there's no deadline to send it to us! Just submit it online or pop it in the post whenever you can 😊

Today is the day! Record your day and be part of recording queer lives and histories in the UK. Sketch, type, write, or photograph your day. Even if you think your day isn't very interesting we'd still love to have it in our collection! All types of days, boring or brilliant are welcome #LGBTplusHM

Mass Observation Archive@massobsarchive.bsky.social · 6mo ago

We're looking to capture experiences of what it means to be queer in the UK today! To do that we're collecting day diaries for 12th February. It doesn't matter what you get up to, or how you record it, we'd love to have it!🧵 (1/4) #LGBTplusHM #lgbthm26

We're looking to capture experiences of what it means to be queer in the UK today! To do that we're collecting day diaries for 12th February. It doesn't matter what you get up to, or how you record it, we'd love to have it!🧵 (1/4) #LGBTplusHM #lgbthm26

Mass Observation Archive@massobsarchive.bsky.social · 7mo ago

In 1982, inspired by the work of MO the National Lesbian and Gay survey began, it sought to capture what everyday life was like for queer people living in the UK. For our latest open call we're continuing the work of NLGS and asking what does it mean to be queer every day? #lgbtqhistory

Bolton: The Happiest Town on Earth? In the 1930s MO asked he people of Bolton "What is happiness to you and yours?". In this episode researchers knock on the doors of those who live in the same spot as the original correspondents, hearing their reflections on happiness www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Illuminated, Bolton: The Happiest Town on Earth?

Does Bolton hold the secret to happiness?

bbc.co.uk

We're thinking about a set up like this and a calippo ice lolly on blue monday... (Image from our the garden and gardening directive, 1998)

We received these words of encouragement, on the back of an envelope, from one of our writers today! They might have meant it for the postal service, but we like to think it was for us 😏

In 1982, inspired by the work of MO the National Lesbian and Gay survey began, it sought to capture what everyday life was like for queer people living in the UK. For our latest open call we're continuing the work of NLGS and asking what does it mean to be queer every day? #lgbtqhistory

Did you know we have a newsletter where you can keep up to date with all the latest MO news? We also share summaries and trends we've seen in the latest directive responses, as well as our latest events and opportunities! You can sign up here: subscribe.emailblaster.cloud/MjEyMjQ/122....