In 1937, Mass Observation called for people
from all parts of the UK to record everything
they did and thought from when they woke
up in the morning to when they went to sleep
at night on 12th May. The resulting diaries
provide a wonderful glimpse into the everyday
lives of all sorts of people in the late 1930s.
They are stored, with many other diaries and
papers, at the Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex.

As it happened 12th May 1937 was the day of
George VI’s Coronation and many people wrote
about being involved in this national event.
May 12th 2010 is likely to be quite an ordinary
day but we would still like to have your diaries.

Write as much as you can about what you do,
who you meet, what you talk about, what you
eat and drink, what you buy or sell, what you
are working on, the places you visit, the people
you meet, the things you read, see and hear around you and of course what you yourself think.

Anyone from any part of the UK whatever your age or background is welcome to send us a diary but it must be in electronic form!

How to take part:

• Diaries should be no more than 750 words

• Diaries MUST be in electronic form - emails or email attachments

• You should include a brief self portrait: your age, where you live, who you live with – if anyone, your present job or occupation if you are working and any other information that you think is important to record. We need this as background to your diary

• If 12th May was a typical day for you please say so. If not, please say why it wasn’t. Any reflections on the day and on how you felt while keeping the diary always welcome

• So that we can add your diary to the rest of the Archive for the future, please include the statement below at the end of your diary (not within the 750 word limit). If you don’t attach this statement, we won’t be able to keep your diary or make it part of the Archive.

“I donate my 12th May diary to the Mass Observation Archive. I consent to it being made publicly available as part of the Archive and to it being reproduced in full or in part on the MOA website, on other websites and in publications as approved by the Mass Observation Archive Trustees”.

To submit you diary please e-mail: moa@sussex.ac.uk.

We can’t thank you personally for your diary but keep an eye on this website for news of the project.

Update - 14/5/10

So far we have received 180 one-day diaries written for 12th May. Thanks to everyone who has sent them in. We look forward to receiving more over the next few days. If you haven't written up your diary yet, please do so soon.

Please remember that we can't respond individually to everyone but a few points have arisen:

• The maximum word length is 750 words for this diary. We don't usually impose word limits but as this is a first for us and a bit of an experiment, we needed to contain the amount we received. Even short pieces can be wonderfully evocative, funny, moving and insightful.


• Please remember to include the statement which allows us to archive and use your diary (see above insert link or text?). If you have already sent us your diary, please check now that you remembered to include it. Diaries without the statement cannot be made available to the public and will probably not be kept.
  
  
• If you are already a Mass Observer who writes for us, please don't use your usual MO number in the text of your diary.
  
  
• This initiative is linked to the event on Sunday 23 May when Margaret Drabble, Oona King and Philippe Sands will be talking about their diaries for 12th May. The event which is part of the Brighton Festival will be chaired by Dr Margaretta Jolly. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) the event was sold out almost as soon as it was advertised.

Dorothy Sheridan
Jessica Scantlebury