Since 1937 Mass Observation has been recording the everyday thoughts, feelings and opinions of people in the UK. In 1982 the National Lesbian and Gay survey began, inspired by the work of MO, it sought to capture what everyday life was like for queer people living in the UK. This LGBTQ+ History Month, MO isContinue reading "What does it mean to be queer every day?"
The Autumn 2025 Directive
This is our last directive of the year, so we'd like to take this opportunity to thank our writers for their contributions and support this year. The archive would not be what it is without their input! We are incredibly grateful for the time and energy they give to Mass Observation. We've got three fascinating topicsContinue reading "The Autumn 2025 Directive"
Event: Documenting disruption: Everyday life during times of war
MO is thrilled to be part of a collaborative event with Verian Group, 'Documenting disruption: Everyday life during times of war'. The event will be hosted by Philippa Edward, Global CEO, Verian and will feature talks from Professor Lucy Noakes and Yves Fradier, Director of Survey and Methods (Verian). You can see an outline of theirContinue reading "Event: Documenting disruption: Everyday life during times of war"
What do you think about your hands?
Our Summer 2025 directive has launched! For this directive MO has teamed up with researchers from The Morgan Centre to collaborate of three directive topics. We hope to collaborate with the centre in the future, repeating topics around the body, objects and spaces. In this directive we've asked writers to respond to questions about hands,Continue reading "What do you think about your hands?"
Find us on Bookshop.org!
Mass Observation is now a Bookshop.org affiliate! That means that you can now easily shop for books about Mass Observation whilst also supporting local, independent bookstores. We often get asked what books have been written either about Mass Observation, or using Mass Observation material. Now you'll be able to easily see and buy the latestContinue reading "Find us on Bookshop.org!"
Mass Observation Annual Report 2023-2024
You can download the Mass Observation Archive's report detailing the activities for 2023-2024 from this link.
What Relationship Does Mass Observation Have to Anthropology?
The hyphenated language of the archive Natalie Wood is a PhD candidate at the University of Manchester. Her ethnographic research explores how the entertainment-based tourism industry of Blackpool might shed light on what it means to live, work and holiday in post-industrial- cum- neoliberal Britain. In particular, she asks what it is about British lifeContinue reading "What Relationship Does Mass Observation Have to Anthropology?"
‘Ooh, the rumours!’: Mass Observation and VE Day
In the lead up to the 80th anniversary of VE, Khaleda Brophy-Harmer (PhD Candidate at the University of Southampton), has gone through the archive's collection of VE day materials to provide insight into how people experienced and wrote about VE day. - On the evening of May 7th, Prime Minister Winston Churchill interrupted radio broadcasting toContinue reading "‘Ooh, the rumours!’: Mass Observation and VE Day"
The Spring 2025 Directive
Spring 2025 Directive Spring Directive 2025 This directive we're asking our writers to respond to three timely topics. Part 1: COVID-19 Pandemic Reflections Mass Observation has been reflecting back on March 2020. It was the 17th March when we contacted Observers to say we were leaving the office and if we weren’t in touch, toContinue reading "The Spring 2025 Directive"
The Mass Observation Critical Series
What do people believe about death and the afterlife? How does the British public imagine the monarchy and its role in British society and governance? How will the Covid-19 pandemic be remembered? What did it mean to people? How did it feel? In this series of publications, the words and writing of Mass Observers are usedContinue reading "The Mass Observation Critical Series"