On the 24th March, the Mass Observation Archive will be joining Rachel Hurdley on Radio 4 to help her explore the Hidden History of the Mantelpiece. In the programme, Rachel will be taking a look at the mantelpiece and how its development reflects changes in society. For more information and to listen visit BBC Sounds.
Since the 1930s, ordinary people have written to Mass Observation about their experiences of key events including the Munich Crisis, Blitz, rationing, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, Falkland’s War, September 11th 2001, and Brexit. This is how you can help us create a record of the pandemic:
Please get in touch, if you would like to submit a regular diary but not join the Mass Observation Project Panel. We ask you to take a look at this document which explains some points that you may want to consider before sending your diaries or reflections to the Archive. Please send your diary to us when you have finished writing, rather than in regular instalments. Please also consider keeping a diary on 12th May.
We would really welcome contributions from school children and wider community groups. This could be a journal, drawings or writing in any style to record your experience. You could also take part in our 12th May Diary Project.
You can send in your contribution individually or as a group. Please see our guidance notes which explain some points you may wish to consider before sending in your contribution to the Archive.
The Mass Observation Archive is conducting its annual diary writing day on the 12th May 2020. This is the 10th anniversary of the modern project. We anticipate that this 12th May will be unlike those captured over the last 10 years and welcome contributions from people of all ages across the UK. Whether or not the UK is in lockdown, please consider keeping a diary. For more details visit our 12th May page.
We welcome physical and electronic responses to all the opportunities listed above. A list of formats that we can accept can be seen in our guidance notes. We ask that you retain any physical records until after the lockdown period.
Don't forget to include the following statement:
I donate my COVID-19 reflections to the Mass Observation Archive. I consent to it being made publicly available as part of the Archive and assign my copyright in this work to the Mass Observation Archive Trustees so that it can be reproduced in full or in part on websites, in publications and in broadcasts as approved by the Mass Observation Trustees. I agree to the Mass Observation Archive assuming the role of Data Controller and the Archive will be responsible for the collection and processing of personal data and ensuring that such data complies with the DPA.
More information about this statement can be found here.
Following Government advice and to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and visitors, The Keep, where the physical Mass Observation Archive is based, will be closed from Monday 23 March 2020.
All events, tours, and workshops during this time will be postponed. The Keep hopes to reschedule them in the future, but if you would like a refund, please contact them.
We will still be responding to email enquiries, but please be aware there might be a delay to our usual response times. We will be posting updates on our Twitter page. You can contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Details about accessing selected parts of the Mass Observation Archive online can be found on our webpage about accesses online material.