Stories from the collection
Discover the human stories behind the collection. Learn about the people, places and events featured in our records.
Each collection insight takes an in-depth look into a group of the records we hold.
Spotlight on Nancy Cunard
This is a link to a new story about Nancy Cunard
Nancy Cunard (1896–1965) was a wealthy heiress and socialite, but police described her as a 'dangerous extremist' for her activism work for black civil rights.
Read about Nancy CunardWomen in history
This Women's History Month discover the stories of women from all walks of life that can be found in our records.
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Alice Hawkins
This is a link to a story about Alice Hawkins
Alice Hawkins (1863–1946) was a working class suffragette and trade unionist, who boldly campaigned for the rights of women.
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Maud Allan
This is a link to a story about Maud Allan
Maud Allan (1873–1956) was a celebrated West End dancer in the early 20th-century until she became entangled in one of the most sensational trials of the 1920s.
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Margaret Bondfield NEW
This is a link to a story about Margaret Bondfield
Margaret Bondfield (1873–1953) was a trade unionist and Labour politician. In 1929 she became Britain’s first female cabinet minister.
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Radclyffe Hall
This is a link to a story about Radclyffe Hall
Radclyffe Hall (1880–1943) lived relatively openly as a lesbian in an era that condemned such relationships. Today she is an icon of LGBTQ+ literature.
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Emmeline Pankhurst
This is a link to a story about Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) was a tireless political activist, who led the WSPU – the militant faction of the movement for women’s suffrage.
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Sophia Todd NEW
This is a link to a story about Sophia Todd
Was a woman arrested for murder in Victorian Liverpool an unfortunate person caught up in a series of ill-fated events, or something much more sinister?
Discover all stories
Browse and explore the human stories behind The National Archives’ collection.
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Nancy Cunard
This is a link to a story about Nancy Cunard
Nancy Cunard (1896–1965) was a wealthy heiress and socialite, but police described her as a 'dangerous extremist' for her activism work for black civil rights.
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The Caravan Club
This is a link to a story about The Caravan Club
The police raid on a secret queer nightclub in 1933 gives an insight into the lives of gay men in interwar London and their defiance in the face of persecution.
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Richard III
This is a link to a story about Richard III
Through documents held at The National Archives, we can piece together a great deal about the life and reign one of Britain's most infamous medieval monarchs.
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Margaret Bondfield NEW
This is a link to a story about Margaret Bondfield
Margaret Bondfield (1873–1953) was a trade unionist and Labour politician. In 1929 she became Britain’s first female cabinet minister.
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The Mangrove Nine
This is a link to a story about The Mangrove Nine
The trial of nine black protestors who were arrested while demonstrating in Notting Hill in the early 1970s became a public platform to criticise police racism.
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William Cuffey
This is a link to a story about William Cuffey
William Cuffey (1788–1870) was a mixed-race, disabled, working-class leader. He was a leading figure in the Chartism movement, famed for his powerful oratory.
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The Festival of Britain NEW
This is a link to a story about The Festival of Britain
The National Archives has a wealth of documents, photographs and art work collected during the planning and running of the influential 1951 Festival of Britain.
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Alice Hawkins
This is a link to a story about Alice Hawkins
Alice Hawkins (1863–1946) was a working class suffragette and trade unionist, who boldly campaigned for the rights of women.
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Horatio Nelson
This is a link to a story about Horatio Nelson
Documents relating to the career of Horatio Nelson (1758–1805) showcase his emergence from humble beginnings and his outstanding naval prowess.
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Shapurji Saklatvala
This is a link to a story about Shapurji Saklatvala
One of the first MPs of Indian heritage, Shapurji Saklatvala (1874–1936) was an agitator for change, which led to his surveillance by the Security Service.
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Radclyffe Hall
This is a link to a story about Radclyffe Hall
Radclyffe Hall (1880–1943) lived relatively openly as a lesbian in an era that condemned such relationships. Today she is an icon of LGBTQ+ literature.
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Emmeline Pankhurst
This is a link to a story about Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) was a tireless political activist, who led the WSPU – the militant faction of the movement for women’s suffrage.
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Maud Allan
This is a link to a story about Maud Allan
Maud Allan (1873–1956) was a celebrated West End dancer in the early 20th-century until she became entangled in one of the most sensational trials of the 1920s.
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Insaaf NEW
This is a link to a story about Insaaf
Insaaf was a film made by the government, filmed partly in Urdu, to promote employment rights under the 1968 Race Relations Act.
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Sophia Todd NEW
This is a link to a story about Sophia Todd
Was a woman arrested for murder in Victorian Liverpool an unfortunate person caught up in a series of ill-fated events, or something much more sinister?
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Ormonde, Almanzora and Windrush NEW
This is a link to a story about Ormonde, Almanzora and Windrush
Passenger lists for the ships that carried post-war migrants from the Caribbean to Britain can be crucial resources for people tracing their family history.
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William Shakespeare
This is a link to a story about William Shakespeare
Through documents held in The National Archives, we can gain an incredible insight into the life of one of the world's most famous playwrights.