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mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
@mrcwarwick.bsky.social
22K followers 1.3K following 710 posts
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!

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc
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Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · Nov 20
Call for papers #CFP

Blood is the Price of Coal: Coal Communities, Health and Welfare in Britain and Beyond from the 19th Century to the Present

18 June 2026: 1 day conference + NUM archive exhibition

Submit abstracts / express interest at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Deadline: 25 Jan 2026
Blood is the Price of Coal: Coal Communities, Health and Welfare in Britain and Beyond from the 19th Century to the Present When and where: University of Warwick, Coventry, on Thursday 18 June 2026. Conference summary: This free one day conference aims to bring together researchers from higher education, community and campaign groups to explore the history of health and welfare in Britain’s coal mining industry. Held jointly by the University of Warwick's Centre for the History of Medicine, Science and Technology, and Modern Records Centre, the event will run alongside an exhibition which will explore some of the themes covered by the speakers through the National Union of Mineworkers' archives. We welcome contributions from new and established researchers, working inside and outside higher education. Confirmed participants include: - Jörg Arnold (University of Augsburg / Institute for Contemporary History Munich - Berlin), author of The British Miner in the Age of DeIndustrialization - Keith Gildart (University of Wolverhampton), Principal Investigator on research project On Behalf of the People: Work, Community and Class in the British Coal Industry 1947-1994 and former miner - Quentin Outram (University of Leeds), Secretary of the Society for the Study of Labour History and co-editor of Coal in Victorian Britain Conference themes: Subjects that could be addressed include but are not limited to: The human cost of coal, including: - Mining disasters, their contemporary impacts and later memorialisation. - Industrial accidents, industrial diseases and workers’ compensation. - Mine safety and the improvement of conditions. - Mining and mental health. Industrial health and welfare, including: - Pre-nationalisation provision in and beyond the colliery. - National Coal Board provision, including the NCB Medical Service, housing and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation. - Trade union campaigns and benefit schemes. - Sport and social provision as mining welfare. Coal and community, including: - Environmental impact. - Mining families and the intergenerational effects of the mining industry. - Impacts of the industry with particular reference to gender, race and ethnicity. - Coalfield communities after coal: the effects of deindustrialisation. Submission guidelines We wish to make space for dialogue between academic and community-based researchers, and welcome involvement from mining heritage and local history groups / researchers from former coalfield communities. We welcome and encourage alternative presentational styles. Possible formats for contributions could include: - 15-20 minute papers. - 5 minute lightning papers (for example showcasing a particular object or archival source, or highlighting a particular place, event, individual or experience). - Round table discussions. - Posters or displays. Submission deadline: 25 January 2026. Limited funding for travel support will be available, with priority given to early career researchers or participants who cannot draw upon institutional funding. For additional enquiries, please contact the conference organisers at archives@warwick.ac.uk
Reposted by Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
lselibrary.bsky.social
Latest @historyworkshop.org.uk with Indy Bhullar and Chelsea Collison (LSE), Peter Fisher and Jenny Yu (TUC Library) @londonmetuni.bsky.social and historian Laura Schwartz (Warwick Uni) discussing trade union history. @tuc.org.uk

The Exhibition is open until 31 Jan. www.lse.ac.uk/library/what...
historyworkshop.org.uk History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 2d
What does a new exhibition on 200 years of British trades union history reveal about the tumultuous story of workers organising for change?

Marybeth Hamilton sits down with historians and archivists to discuss the exhibition and the unexpected stories that it unveils.
Reimagining Trades Union History
What does a new exhibition on 200 years of British trades union history reveal about the triumphs and challenges of collective action?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
January 9, 2026 at 8:58 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
If someone earned 50 shillings a week 100 years ago, was that... good or bad?

Our handy guide 'What could you buy with a working class wage?', c.1900s-1920s, may be able to help!

Explore examples of weekly budgets, ads for consumer goods and more at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...
Screen shot of webpage 'What could you buy with a working class wage? Most of the image is taken up with a sepia photograph of two shop workers in aprons standing outside their early 20th century grocers' shop.
January 9, 2026 at 11:13 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Welcome to our new followers!

Looking for historical inspiration (or distraction)? 150 UK galleries, libraries, archives & museums - all active on Bluesky - are highlighted in this new pack.

Excellent and diverse collections, info about online events, heritage snark and more.

go.bsky.app/Ms7endH
January 8, 2026 at 1:42 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
According to the weather reports for tomorrow, we're anticipating our view to be something like this. Keeping our fingers crossed it won't be worse. #snow ❄️
A photograph of the outside of the Modern Records Centre. The paths, flowerbed, trees and ground are covered in snow. A photograph of the outside of the Modern Records Centre. The flowerbed, trees and ground are covered in snow.
January 8, 2026 at 10:49 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
'A woman in the public eye is always submitted to a storm of abuse"

95 years ago Ellen Wilkinson, MP for Jarrow, reflected on the 'People who hate me' - the 'anti-flaunters', snobs, women stuck in 'household drudgery' and objectors to 'putting ideas into girls' heads above their station'
Press cutting from 'Pearson's Weekly', 28 November 1931: 'People who hate me: A woman in the public eye is always submitted to a storm of abuse' by Ellen Wilkinson. In the article Ellen Wilkinson describes some of the abusive letters that she had received as a Member of Parliament, including complaints about her "flaunting" herself, coming from a working class background, not being a 'drudge' in the home, and "putting ideas into girls' heads above their station". Document reference: MSS.209/21/1/920.
January 7, 2026 at 2:37 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
"Coughs & sneezes spread diseases" but it's fine to carry on smoking a pipe.

Timely Government advice from the 1940s, from the Brewers' Society archive.

mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/BLR/...
Poster showing a cartoon strip of a couple watching a presenter on the TV. The presenter has a cold and to stop germs spreading to the viewers the later wrap the TV in a huge handkerchief. The male viewer carries on smoking his pipe. The caption reads "Coughs and sneezes spread diseases, trap the germs in your handkerchief".
January 6, 2026 at 10:46 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
20 days to go to send us your abstracts on coal, community, health and welfare!

Join us in June for a one day event at the University of Warwick, including NUM archive content.

#CfP
mrcwarwick.bsky.social Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · Nov 20
Call for papers #CFP

Blood is the Price of Coal: Coal Communities, Health and Welfare in Britain and Beyond from the 19th Century to the Present

18 June 2026: 1 day conference + NUM archive exhibition

Submit abstracts / express interest at warwick.ac.uk/services/lib...

Deadline: 25 Jan 2026
Blood is the Price of Coal: Coal Communities, Health and Welfare in Britain and Beyond from the 19th Century to the Present When and where: University of Warwick, Coventry, on Thursday 18 June 2026. Conference summary: This free one day conference aims to bring together researchers from higher education, community and campaign groups to explore the history of health and welfare in Britain’s coal mining industry. Held jointly by the University of Warwick's Centre for the History of Medicine, Science and Technology, and Modern Records Centre, the event will run alongside an exhibition which will explore some of the themes covered by the speakers through the National Union of Mineworkers' archives. We welcome contributions from new and established researchers, working inside and outside higher education. Confirmed participants include: - Jörg Arnold (University of Augsburg / Institute for Contemporary History Munich - Berlin), author of The British Miner in the Age of DeIndustrialization - Keith Gildart (University of Wolverhampton), Principal Investigator on research project On Behalf of the People: Work, Community and Class in the British Coal Industry 1947-1994 and former miner - Quentin Outram (University of Leeds), Secretary of the Society for the Study of Labour History and co-editor of Coal in Victorian Britain Conference themes: Subjects that could be addressed include but are not limited to: The human cost of coal, including: - Mining disasters, their contemporary impacts and later memorialisation. - Industrial accidents, industrial diseases and workers’ compensation. - Mine safety and the improvement of conditions. - Mining and mental health. Industrial health and welfare, including: - Pre-nationalisation provision in and beyond the colliery. - National Coal Board provision, including the NCB Medical Service, housing and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation. - Trade union campaigns and benefit schemes. - Sport and social provision as mining welfare. Coal and community, including: - Environmental impact. - Mining families and the intergenerational effects of the mining industry. - Impacts of the industry with particular reference to gender, race and ethnicity. - Coalfield communities after coal: the effects of deindustrialisation. Submission guidelines We wish to make space for dialogue between academic and community-based researchers, and welcome involvement from mining heritage and local history groups / researchers from former coalfield communities. We welcome and encourage alternative presentational styles. Possible formats for contributions could include: - 15-20 minute papers. - 5 minute lightning papers (for example showcasing a particular object or archival source, or highlighting a particular place, event, individual or experience). - Round table discussions. - Posters or displays. Submission deadline: 25 January 2026. Limited funding for travel support will be available, with priority given to early career researchers or participants who cannot draw upon institutional funding. For additional enquiries, please contact the conference organisers at archives@warwick.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Norfolk Record Office run some great online talks & training sessions...

Interested in finding out more about settlement papers & the pre-1834 poor law? They may have just the intro for you!

The Feb talk on gay life in WW2 looks well worth a look too

Follow @norfolkro.bsky.social for more updates
norfolkro.bsky.social Norfolk Record Office @norfolkro.bsky.social · 8d
Want to learn more about your family history, why not expand your knowledge this New Year and join us online on Friday 9 Jan 2026 for our FREE Quick Guide on Settlement Papers. Book your place here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1829442233...
January 2, 2026 at 2:14 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
A Bluesky New Year welcome to the Framework Knitters Museum in Nottingham @frameworkknitters.bsky.social 🎉

Well worth a follow if you like your social history with added crafting!
frameworkknitters.bsky.social Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire @frameworkknitters.bsky.social · 8d
Here to share more about our work celebrating the craft and graft of framework knitting, plus our new programme of events, workshops and exhibitions coming up in 2026.
Black and white image of a Victorian knitting frame, still used to demonstrate at the FWK Museum.
January 2, 2026 at 11:15 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
We're back, rested and ready for more archive exploration in 2026!

As we balance precariously on the metaphorical penny farthing of time, here's hoping for a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year for us all - wobbling slightly but still upright and speeding onwards (fitted sportsing shorts optional)
19th century New Year's card with the caption 'A bright New Year'. It includes a picture of a man in sports gear (red fitted shorts and a stripy top) bent double on a penny farthing bicycle, speeding along a country road. A flattish green field is in the background with a town or city with smoky chimneys far in the distance. The precariously hurtling cyclist is described as 'Making the Pace'. This card is one of a series of cycling postcards and greetings cards in the archives of the Cyclists' Touring Club / Cycling UK (document reference: MSS.328/C/5/5/2).
January 2, 2026 at 11:11 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
The MRC will be closed 24th December - 1st January. We wish all of our researchers, depositors and supporters a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you on 2nd January. 🎄

This postcard c.1934 features in the Cyclists' Touring Club/Cycling UK collection.

mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/CTC/...
Colour postcard features drawings of cats racing on ordinaires. They are being chased by dogs. Caption reads 'On the road home' and 'I wish you a Happy Christmas'.
December 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Snow way we'd leave this one out!

This snowy picture of a lane in the UK was digitised from a lantern slide, one of many found as part of the Cyclists' Touring Club collection.

More can be viewed here: mrc-describe.epexio.com/admin/#/cata...

#WinterWonderland #ArchiveAdventCalendar #MRC
Black and white lantern slide showing a snowy landscape, including a large tree with bare branches bedecked with snow. From the archives of the Cyclists Touring Club.
December 23, 2025 at 10:01 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
As the cataloguing of the NUM archives nears its end, our Project Archivist writes on the Miners' Hall, Barnsley:

The completed Yorkshire Miners' Association archive catalogue is at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/YMA

NUM catalogue (work so far completed!) at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/NUM
December 22, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
uofglasgowasc.bsky.social
Interested in conducting original research with our internationally significant collections? ✍️📚

Applications for Library Visiting Research Fellowships at @glasgow.ac.uk are open!

Apply here: gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/li...

Closing date: 5/01/2026
#UofGLibraryFellows
Image showing leather binding with gold tooled cover with text box containing information about the fellowships being open to support scholars to work with our collections and the closing date of 5/01/26.
December 19, 2025 at 10:53 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
As it is the season for Christmas dinners, we thought we'd share you this picture of an RAF Christmas Dinner from our archives - taken in December 1944.

A great reminder that even in the darkest of hours, the spirit of Christmas keeps going.

#ArchiveAdventCalendar #ChristmasParty #RAF
Black and white photograph of an austere looking room decorated with bunting and festive signs. The room is filled with long tables set for Christmas dinner. Rows of men in Royal Air Force uniform are sitting alongside the tables, waiting for dinner. Photo from the archives of Jack Plymen (b.1915), Scientific Officer, Royal Air Force, Operational Research Section (MSS.335/PLY/12/11).
December 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
No elves on our shelves, but they did sneak into 'The Land Worker'in December 1920 #ArchiveAdventCalendar #ArchiveElves

mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/AAW/...
Poem 'The Christmas Elves'. The Christmas elves are out to-night, While all the land is veiled in snow; They deck the trees with hoar-frost bright, And bid the yule-fires warmly glow. They build ice-bridges o'er the stream, Hang icicles from roofs o'erhead, And make the holly branches gleam With stores of berries rich and red.
December 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Another entirely normal Victorian Christmas for today's #ArchiveAdventCalendar

The Cyclist in 1888/9 shouts 'Festive' with its vision of Professor Gorilla, dressed only in red pants, painting the #ChristmasColours of a swampy St Paul's Cathedral through an arch decorated with bicycling pharaohs
Front cover of the 1888 Christmas edition of the Victorian magazine 'The Cyclist', incorporating a year book for 1889 (document reference: MSS.328/C/5/CYCX/5). The illustration on the front cover is of a reclining gorilla in a pair of red pants, painting a landscape that is visible through a massive arch decorated with images of ancient Egyptian figures riding bicycles and tricycles. The landscape through the arch is a post-apocalyptic swamp which contains some broken pillars and the dome of St Paul's Cathedral. A red sun is either rising or setting behind the swampy view. The caption on the front cover reads 'Professor Gorilla's report being the Cyclist 'Xmas No. for 1888 and year book for 1889. Iliffe & Son 98, Fleet St., London & Coventry. Price One Shilling'.
December 17, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social
A BlueSky welcome to Oxfordshire Museums Service!
oxonmuseumservice.bsky.social The Oxfordshire Museum Service @oxonmuseumservice.bsky.social · 24d
Spotted by Valerie during her work experience this Victorian medicine cabinet contains a variety of potions offering potential remedies.

It is typical of what might have been found in a middle class home during the period. For further information visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordshire-museum.
In a display case a wooden cabinet containing draws and little hollows for bottles containing different pills and other things is visible. At the forefront is a pair of shoes and to the left is a label describing what is in the display.
December 17, 2025 at 1:40 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
#ArchiveAdventCalendar #Bells The National Cycle Archive way.

mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/NCA/...
Advertisement for 1889 featuring bicycle bells and clip.
December 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Christmas cheer from the back of a van!

Members of the Women's Land Army receiving festive gifts 🎁 during the Second World War, in this seasonal view from the Young Women's Christian Association archives

(more info at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/YWC/...)

#ArchiveAdventCalendar #WrappingPaper
Black and white photograph of a group of women giving and receiving Christmas presents. The gifts are being handed out to members of the Women's Land Army from a highly decorated van.
December 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
In the aftermath of the office Christmas lunch, we're taking festive hat inspiration from the archives

This collection of unposed looking seasonal revellers featured as part of the Brewers' Society's long running 'Beer is best' ad campaign

#ArchiveAdventCalendar #FestiveClothes
1935 Brewers' Society advert for the London evening papers. It includes the slogan: 'For a merry Christmas we all agree that beer is best', and a photo of five slightly inebriated looking people with pints and party hats.
December 12, 2025 at 3:12 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
New Bluesky archive account to follow 🎉

(Festive) welcome to @arundelcarchive.bsky.social!
arundelcarchive.bsky.social Arundel Castle Archive @arundelcarchive.bsky.social · 29d
On the 1st day of Christmas my archive gave to me…
An illustrated late 19th century selection of Christmas tales including the quintessential A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. #archive #Christmas #Arundel #Christmas2025 #history #archives #books #bahhumbug #scrooge #Dickens
December 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
Suspend belief and imagine if Trotsky was an early adopter of #ChristmasJumperDay

The less embellished original photograph from 1932 or 1933 appears in the 'Papers of Henry Sara (1886-1953), Trotskyist'

mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/SAR/...
Photograph of Leon Trotsky from 1932 or 1933. Colourful decorations and jumper added by MRC staff.
December 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
mrcwarwick.bsky.social
We're opting for a traditional Victorian Christmas this year, so BRING ON the penny farthing racing cats

"Merry and happy may your Christmas be"
With cats cycling, cheering and sitting precariously up a tree

#ArchiveAdventCalendar #ChristmasCards
One of a series of late 19th century Christmas cards which follow the sometimes troubled progress of road racing cats on penny farthing bicycles. This card shows a close finish as the leading two cats push for the finishing line, with a third following just behind. The race finish is being viewed by an enthusiastic and entirely cat-based crowd, including a bookie and one lad up a tree. All the cats are clothed, this is the 19th century after all.
December 10, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
sslh.bsky.social
We have a new guide to archive sources for #co-operative #history on the website. You can download the 35-page PDF here
sslh.org.uk/2025/12/07/s...
Sources for Co-operative History in the UK
Click to download. The Society for the Study of Labour History has created a guide to sources for co-operative history in the UK. Compiled by the Society’s Archives and Resources Committee, the gui…
sslh.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM