PAST: British State, Society, and the People, c. 1782-2000

The records of The National Archives are an essential source for any student of modern Britain. This workshop will introduce you to records of the major government departments which can be used to study British social and political history and shed light on the relationships between the British state and its people in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Our Home Office records begin in 1782 and illustrate almost every major change in British society, while the records of the Treasury track every penny government spent. Records of the Poor Law Commission and the Ministry of Health, in their various iterations, catalogue the development of state medicine and social security in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 20th century, the papers of the Cabinet and Prime Minister’s Office chronicle the high-level work of government. Records from across multiple government departments reflect experiences of Britain’s diverse communities and the attempts of citizens to effect change through protest.

Many of these records can appear, at first glance, difficult to find and use.

At this two-day, practical workshop, attendees will receive instruction from records experts at The National Archives on how to get the most from these vast collections.

In hands-on document sessions, students will gain an understanding of how to move between the records of different government departments. They will also learn how to use registers and indexes to correspondence which are crucial to making best use of nineteenth and twentieth century records.

Day one will begin with an introduction to The National Archives’ catalogue, Discovery, and guidance on how to use it most effectively. This will be followed by sessions exploring the records of the Cabinet Office, Treasury and Home Office, finishing with an overview of records relating to health and welfare.

Day two will begin with sessions illustrating how to research diverse communities, protest and surveillance. These will be followed by a session on using genealogical sources to trace individuals and a session on Prime Minister’s Office records. The day will end with an opportunity for students to ask questions about their research to our experts.

At the end of the course, you will understand how to use Discovery and original registry systems to identify records from the great departments of state. You will have learned how to approach researching a wide variety of government records, and you will be able to apply this knowledge to your research using original documents held at The National Archives, and beyond.

This event is aimed at current taught postgraduate and PhD students, but other researchers are welcome. Tea and coffee at registration is provided.

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