iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

⏰️ TONIGHT at 5.30pm, open to all. Bill Whiteside will discuss his new book about the sinking of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940, in conversation with Director of Churchill Archives Centre. In the Jock Colville Hall at Churchill College. No need to book, just turn up. buff.ly/Yil2tgD

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‘Operation Catapult’: A discussion of a new book by Bill Whiteside about the sinking of the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir in July 1940 - Churchill Archives Centre

A discussion of a new book by Bill Whiteside about the sinking of the French fleet at Mers el-Kebir in July 1940. The author will be in conversation with Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill…

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

📰 New guest blog post from Archives Centre researcher Zachary Kuntz, PhD candidate in History at the University of South Florida. Zach used the Mitrokhin papers to research Iosif Grigulevich, one of the most successful deep‑cover illegals in the history of Soviet espionage. buff.ly/2t5MIb3

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A Spy Turned Academic: Tracing the hidden footprints of Iosif Grigulevich inside the Mitrokhin Papers

Blog post by PhD student Zachary Kuntz about his research using the Mitrokhin Papers at Churchill Archives Centre.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

We are excited to release our highlights video of the Geopolitical Risk conference from earlier this year, featuring exclusive interview clips with our speakers and valued supporters. Thank you to all who contributed to these crucial discussions. buff.ly/pcYVihP

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Geopolitical Risk: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future

A conference hosted by the Churchill Archives Centre at the Moller Institute at Churchill College to mark 80 years since Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech. Contributors: Allen Packwood…

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Our last post this week is another WW1 letter from Jack Oughtred's archive, this time chosen by ARU student George Hayman ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Yesterday we posted an extract from one of Jack Oughtred's letters describing conditions during the Battle of the Somme, as part of our series marking the Somme's 110th anniversary. Here's the only photograph of Jack in the collection, alongside a photo of his wife, Phyllis Bentham ... 🧵

Two black-and-white photographs. The photo on the left shows a man in military dress smiling at the camera. The photo on the white shows a woman dressed in white holding a tennis racket.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

This letter from Lieutenant Jack Oughtred was chosen by ARU History student Eve Gore, as part of our social media series commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Somme. Written just 6 days before the end of the Battle, Jack's letter is frank about conditions in November 1916 ...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In April, we were delighted to welcome students from 12 schools around the world for NUREMBERG 80, an international student exercise marking the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials. You can watch the highlights here: buff.ly/q1VLYje

youtube.com

Nuremberg 80

An international student exercise hosted by the Churchill Archives Centre to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trial

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ending the week with a WW1 artefact selected by ARU History student George Hayman. George writes: "This is a map of the Western Front from Soyecourt (better known as the Somme) to the Ypres salient. It shows what would become the frontlines of the infamous “Battle of the Somme” ... 🧵

Large map of the Western Front with settlements labelled, on a blue archival folder. Red and yellow lines are marked on the map to show areas of conflict.

Close-up of roughly the top third of the map.

Close-up of roughly the middle third of the map.

Close-up of roughly the bottom third of the map.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Another item from ARU student Eve Gore highlighting the Somme in our archives: "This is from a diary written by General Lord Henry Rawlinson; he commanded the Fourth Army at the Battle of the Somme ... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Continuing our posts by @angliaruskin.bsky.social History students, highlighting the Battle of the Somme in the archives... Student Eve Gore chose this letter from the Churchill Papers... 🧵

First page of Eleanor's handwritte letter

Second page of Eleanor's handwritten letter.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It was great to welcome the combined Photography Group of the Royal Automobile Club and Automobile Club de France last week! This visit gave us a chance to dig out some items from the archives that relate to cars and automobile innovation...

The group looking at a display of archival items.

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Reposted by Churchill Archives Centre

Richard Carr @richardcarr.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

As part of a 2nd year module, ARU history students visit the brilliant Churchill Archives, Cambridge and choose materials relating to a particular theme/event for an assignment. This year, The Somme. Great to see students engage with archive material for the first time, and to see what they find...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

It's always great to see new publications that have been based on our collections! This article by Dr Seth Thévoz uses the digitised Chartwell Papers to analyse the extraordinary amount of private members' clubs in London that Churchill belonged to, and what membership meant: buff.ly/YXJ08Sp

clubland.substack.com

Winston Churchill's London club memberships - an update

WSC's finances give an insight into how he juggled his club subscriptions

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Third item chosen by ARU History student Ben Clarke to highlight the #BattleoftheSomme in the archives ... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Another post by ARU History student Ben Clarke highlighting the #BattleoftheSomme in the archives... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

This week, we'll be posting items from the archives commemorating the 110th anniversary of the #BattleoftheSomme that were chosen by Anglia Ruskin History student Ben Clarke ... 🧵

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

2026 marks 110 years since the Battle of the Somme, which was fought between 1st July and 18th November 1916, and resulted in over 1 million casualties and deaths.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

🎉 New - Papers of Alan Nunn May, physicist who was part of WW2 nuclear weapons research programme "Tube Alloys". In 1946 he was arrested and convicted of sharing information with the Soviet Union. The collection includes informal photos of members of the Montreal Lab team in 1943-44. buff.ly/0Qw1Ddr

Alan Nunn May relaxing [in woods] with an apple in his hand

Alfred Maddock, Alan Nunn May and Margaret Maddock leaning on a wall and smiling or laughing

Two photographs of Alfred Maddock, Alan Nunn May, Jules Guéron, Henry Seligman and Mrs Lesley Seligman standing in skis on snow. In the second photograph they are eating

Two informal group photographs inside and outside offices/laboratories. Showing B W Sargent, Pierre Auger, John Cockcroft, Hans Halban, Henry Seligman and [Hamills?]

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

World Goat Day 🐐 I was very surprised to find 2 images of a goat and also several references to goats in our collections!

Photo of a soldier holding a goat, captioned "The Mascot of the Royal Scots" - reference: ESHR 3/5

Cartoon of older man with a goat, captioned "The caddies having enlisted, Professor Bogey finds a war-time substitute" - reference: ESHR 3/5

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

📢 We will be holding a drop-in Open Day on Wednesday 16th September 11.30am-3.30pm as part of Open Cambridge. Come along to meet our friendly team to learn more about both our collections and the work that goes into sharing them #OpenCambridge @cambridgefestival.bsky.social buff.ly/S2YvFER

opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

Churchill Archives Centre Open Day

Home to over 600 collections on the history of modern Britain, Churchill Archives Centre opens its doors for an open day. The Archives Centre looks after the papers of politicians, civil servants,

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

📢 Today we are publishing a new set of material to our online Access Portal, totalling 14690 images in 105 files across 5 collections! 📝 📓 📒 This batch contains diaries, autobiographies and letters. The full extent detailed on our new blog post: buff.ly/dxwJdSM

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

#otd in 1903, Stephen Roskill was born! He had an illustrious Naval career, becoming a historian once retired, but he is important to the history of the Archives Centre as he was closely involved in our early development, working to seek deposits and collections to complement the Churchill papers.

4 photos of Stephen Roskill. Top left is Stephen and Elizabeth Roskill reunited in Malta in 1931. Top right is SR riding a donkey in Egypt. Bottom left is SR with a group of people on a Northern Cruise in 1926. Bottom right is SR with a broken ski in Switzerland 1924/1925.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

📣 Blog post from guest blogger Dr Andrew Brown focusing on G I Taylor's 1941 calculations of the blast from an atomic bomb. Taylor is 1 of 5 Cambridge scientists who are the subjects of Brown’s forthcoming book, Savants of Science and Warfare, to be published by @oxunipress.bsky.social next year

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The blast from an Atomic Bomb - Churchill Archives Centre

A blog post on G I Taylor's calculations of the blast from an atomic bomb and correspondence with James Chadwick, by Dr Andrew Brown

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

One of our most recent accessions is a small archive from Sir Eric Seal, Churchill's Principal Private Secretary in the early years of his premiership, having been with him since the very start of the war, when Churchill was brought back to the Cabinet as First Lord of the Admiralty.

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Sir Eric Seal, Churchill's 'submarine' secretary - Churchill Archives Centre

Blog about Sir Eric Seal, Winston Churchill's Principal Private Secretary during the early years of the war

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Found amongst the papers of Donald MacDougall, whoever put together the biographies of delegates for a conference couldn't help but add some further comments... some were clearly for conversation starter purposes, whilst others were definitely not...

Description of person added:

Personal: He is a quiet, unassuming, industrious and able official. He is well liked by his colleagues and is a very easy person to deal with. He is straightforward and frank. On an earlier visit to London he was most impressed by the assistance given by the United Kingdom officials which he now tries to reciprocate.

He is married and devoted to his home and family. Golf appears to be his main recreation

Description added:

He has a stoop, a massive brow, is growing bald and appears far older than his age. He is slow in speech and deliberate in manner but he is a profound thinker. He is probably the most distinguished Civil Servant that Canada has produced and has exerted a powerful influence on the formation of Canadian policy.

Hobbies: Work, more work; walking and bridge

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

🍿 🎞️ Recording now available of Dame Karen Pierce's lecture "Do we still need the 'Special Relationship'?". For the lecture Dame Karen drew on her experience within the United Nations and her time as Ambassador to the United States to talk about the special relationship.

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The 21st Stephen Roskill Memorial Lecture: Do we still need the ‘Special Relationship’?

The 21st Stephen Roskill Memorial Lecture: Do we still need the ‘Special Relationship’? Delivered by Dame Karen Pierce DCMG on 22nd June 2026

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Last week we celebrated the end of term with an open afternoon, to allow students, staff and fellows the opportunity to see some of the treasures we have in the archive and talk to our staff all about what we've been up to!

The Master visiting the Conservation table and talking to David, one of our Conservators. The table is full of different examples of packaging and other tools used by conservation to preserve our collections

Our Digital Archivist, Chris, showing students his exhibition of the variety of extinct data carriers found in our collections

Archivist Madelin, manning the welcome desk, in discussion with two students

Reading Room exhibition, which highlighted some of the greatest hits that can be found in our collection, alongside a number of Churchill College items, highlighting student life over the years

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Another LGBTQ+ find from the archives for #pride month. "Liberty", "equality" and "pluralism" were the three values outlined in a late 1980s paper to the Labour party, encouraging them to support lesbian and gay rights...

3 handwritten extracts from the document imposed onto a black background with a pink border. The extracts read:

Liberty: lesbian and gay rights is about freedom. Freedom from discrimination and prejudice. Freedom to live our lives openly.

Equality: we are not asking for special treatment. We simply demand the same rights, opportunities and respect as heterosexuals.

Pluralism: Labour should not be afraid of celebrating social diversity. Support for the lesbian and gay communities is part of that.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

For #pride month this year, we will be posting a few items from our collections that highlight modern LGBTQ+ history...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Dame Karen Pierce delivered a fantastic lecture 'Do we still need the special relationship?' on Monday evening for our 21st Roskill Memorial Lecture. Thank you to all who braved the heat and joined us for a lovely evening!

Dame Karen Pierce standing on stage in front of a screen reading "Welcome to the 21st Stephen Roskill Memorial Lecture"

Dame Karen Pierce and Allen Packwood sitting behind a table with microphones on stage

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Last week the Archives and Library teams had our annual Disaster Contingency Plan training day which was once again a packed programme. Thank you to our external speakers and Churchill College staff involved from the maintenance, grounds and gardens, hospitality porters and porters teams!

Maintenance Manager, Jamie, explaining equipment available in a maintenance store

Conservator, Sarah, explaining equipment available in the Disaster Cupboard

Project archivist, Jess, driving the college buggy with conservator, David, in the passenger seat

Hospitality Porter Supervisor, Tom, explains equipment available from the Hospitality Porter team

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

12 tickets left for our free lecture, happening on Monday!

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

This #RefugeeWeek we are highlighting the Second World War Cambridge Children's Refugee Committee which two people in our collections (Sybil Hutton and Rachel Lauterpacht) was involved with. You can find out more by following the links in our Women in Cambridge research guide:

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Women in Cambridge c.1900-1950 Research Guide - Churchill Archives Centre

This research guide shares archive material which documents the roles played by women in Cambridge in the first half of the twentieth century.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Digging for Data: Recovering Files from Forgotten Word Processing Systems - find out in our new blog what happened when our Digital Archivist worked with computer science students as one of their ‘clients’ for a group project!

On the left is one of the 8 inch floppy discs that the students helped retrieve data from. On the right side is the external drive used to try and read these discs

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

This International Archives Week focuses on Archives for Justice: Rights, Memory and Futures, so we are sharing our resources on the Nuremberg trials. Nuremberg trial research guide ➡️ buff.ly/FXcvE6d Nuremberg trial online exhibition ➡️ buff.ly/g6ATyds #IAW2026 #ArchivesForJustice

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The Nuremberg Trial Research Guide - Churchill Archives Centre

This guide presents a summary of holdings in the Churchill Archives Centre relating to the Nuremberg Trial of 1945-1946.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Today marks 82 years since D-Day. In our collections you can find various accounts, and today we're highlighting the diaries of John Antony Crawford Hugill with his first hand account and the reminiscences of Admiral Sir Manley Power, written years later only relying on his memory...

Extract from Hugill's diary. Quotes pulled out "... June 6th Der Tag ..." and "... Not a sign of shelling or activity of any kind from the French coast ..."

Reference: HUGL 1

Extract from Hugill's diary from the closing of his entry on June 6th. Quotes that have been highlighted: "... I'm surprised that such large and vulnerable vessels have been used on D day ..."

Reference: HUGL 1

Extract from Power's memoirs, containing part of his brief run down of the Normandy Landings. Quotes highlighted: "... expecting at any minute that all hell would break loose ..." and "... Not until they were touching down did the enemy open fire - on them, not us! ..."

Reference: MANP 1

Extract from Power's memoirs, containing part of his brief run down of the Normandy Landings. Quotes highlighted: "... We were expecting a pretty hot reception ..." and "... I (having as yet no target) intended to move in in the centre ..."

Reference: MANP 1

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

On Thursday 25th June we are hosting an introduction day for anyone considering a career in archives, records management or conservation. Contact archives.volunteers@chu.cam.ac.uk for further details and to sign up to attend #archives #archivesconservation #recordsmanagement

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

We have a rare and exciting opportunity to join our team as Director of Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College. Application deadline is 9am on 29th June 2026. Please share this with people you think would be interested.

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Director of the Churchill Archives Centre | Churchill College, Cambridge

Application deadline: 09:00 am BST on Monday 29th June

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

This #VolunteeringWeek we are highlighting the experience of our latest volunteers in Archives and Records Management - Yulia and Charlotte. They've kindly written about their placements: buff.ly/vOZG9sk You can find out more about our volunteering placements and applying on the same webpage

A volunteer looking at archive material in an open archive box, whilst sitting at a desk with a computer, as part of a box listing task

A volunteer looking at an old mounted photograph, whilst sitting at a desk with a computer, as part of a box listing task.

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Randolph Churchill was born on this day in 1911. Here he is at Stour, his home in East Bergholt, Suffolk. We've recently been looking into our material relating to Randolph Churchill's Suffolk connections in preparation for attending the Lillian Redstone celebration day @suffolkarchives.bsky.social

Randolph Churchill sitting on stone steps near an open door to his house. Two small dogs sit next to him and on his lap

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Join us for our 2026 Roskill Lecture with Dame Karen Pierce: "Do we still need the special relationship?" on the 22nd June. Tickets are free and you can register here: buff.ly/VjPzNmP

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

One of our archivists, Chris, has been working on The Papers of Sir Donald MacDougall, which required a mass rearranging. He took over the back of the strong room to have enough space to spread out!

Piles of files spread out across a table, ready for rearranging. At the end of the table is a very tall tower of box lids

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Today is the 81st anniversary of #VEDay, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe. We preserve this "victory special edition" of the Picture Post magazine - containing vivid photos of street celebrations in London and Paris...

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Our conservators have been busy preparing film-based materials to go into our new (4th) laboratory freezer. The team carry out ‘critical moisture indicator’ packaging (to be able to visually check the humidity inside the packages) before filling the new freezer #archivesconservation

Image showing packaging of film-based materials in plastic, with a pile of film cannisters already wrapped

Freezer partially filled with film-based materials

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

This May marks 100 years since the General Strike. A few of our collections contain newspaper articles detailing the strike. Newspapers were an important tool of the government to try and reassure the public that the strike wouldn't affect their day to day life

Newspaper clipping from the Churchill Papers, reference CHAR 2/148, with the headline "First Day of Great Strike"

Newspaper clipping from the papers of Sir Ralph Hawtrey, reference HTRY 13/3. The headline reads "What the Women are Doing"

Newspaper from the papers of Sir Ralph Hawtrey, reference HTRY 13/3. The headline reads "Sixth Day of the Strike"

Newspaper article in the Daily Mirror from the papers of Sir Ralph Hawtrey, reference HTRY 13/3. Headline reads "Running Supplies through the Strike Blockade" and contains two pictures, one of trucks and another of a boat, all laden with supplies

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Last week, we were honoured to welcome the High Sheriffs of Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland and Suffolk for an educational visit about archives and how they inform current research. Thanks for attending, all!

Group photograph of High Sheriffs outside at Churchill College

High Sheriffs and partners outside in the sunshine at Churchill College

High Sheriffs and partners listening to Allen Packwood (Director of Churchill Archives Centre) talk in the grounds of Churchill College

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Today's #Archive30 theme is #ArchiveFoodandDrink! We love these candid snaps of a young Mary Churchill and her friend eating doughnuts while on holiday in Switzerland. [Reference: CSCT 5/2/83-84]

Black-and-white photograph of Mary Churchill and friend eating doughnuts and laughing

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Churchill Archives Centre @chuarchives.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Today's #Archive30 theme is #ArchiveVolunteers. We're always grateful for the support of our volunteers 🫶 Our conservation volunteer Róisín recently assisted conservator David in making new book boxes. These will prevent damage to fragile books in our collections!

Róisín and David making book boxes in the conservation studio

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