Blog

The twentieth century marked a pivotal time for medicinal advancements but, when it comes to procedures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, little has changed in over a century. Examining two global pandemics we consider the idea of social responsibility during the outbreaks of Plague (1918) and Coronavirus (2019).

AM's Felix Barnes and Courtney Priday explore the vital role of primary sources in fostering information literacy and critical thinking. By examining archival material and using tools from metadata to contextual essays, AM collections empower users to critically evaluate historical sources, encouraging informed perspectives on the past and its relevance to today.

Through British government papers, Apartheid South Africa, 1989-1994: Negotiation, Liberation and Democracy explores the dismantling of apartheid and the lead-up to free elections. Nick Jackson, Senior Editor at AM, looks at an example from this wealth of content, a Prime Minister’s Office (PREM) file about resistance to participation in the elections from the political leader of Bophuthatswana. 

Jennifer Wedge, AM's Metadata and Discovery Manager, explores the importance of metadata and how it is essential in helping users discover our collections. 

Film offers more than entertainment, it captures fleeting, candid moments that reveal the rhythm of everyday life in the past. Wanderings in Peking, from AM’s China on Film: Twentieth Century Sources from the British Film Institute, offers a glimpse of 1930s Beijing, revealing a city where tradition meets progress, with the camera often capturing its most compelling stories unintentionally.

James Prinsep, the son of an East India Company merchant and government official, holds a notable place in Indian history for his work in the Indian Mint and standardising currency. Records from East India Company, module VII show how Prinsep, and the British-run East India Company more broadly, reshaped India’s currency to suit their economic and administrative needs.

Foreign Office, Consulate and Legation Files, China: 1830-1939 contains a huge variety of material touching on life in China through the eyes of the British representatives stationed there. Nick Jackson, Senior Editor at AM, looks at an example from this wealth of content, one diplomat’s exploration of Chinese family relationships and how this narrative presented them to a British audience.

The Nineteenth Century Stage is a rich resource exploring the theatrical celebrities, artistry, and changing social roles of the era. It highlights Pamela Colman Smith, known for her Rider-Waite tarot illustrations and theatre work, whose influence shaped Victorian theatre. Despite being overlooked, her life and impact are vividly captured through striking art and intimate collections within this valuable resource.

In preparation for migration to AM Quartex, the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press had to take stock of and rationalise seven distinct digital collections. Learn about how this was overcome in part three of this guest blog series.

From medieval markets to a global powerhouse, London’s evolution between 1450 and 1750 is vividly documented in the records of its livery companies. Central to the city’s economy, these institutions reveal how London navigated challenges like plagues, the Great Fire, and rapid growth, underscoring their vital role in shaping a thriving metropolis.

Editorial assistant Jade Lilliman reflects on the 20th anniversary of Movember, the annual movement encouraging men to grow moustaches to support awareness and fundraising for men's health issues like prostate cancer and mental health. Jade delves into the Movember mission alongside historical perspectives on facial hair from the Mass Observation Archive, drawing parallels between past and present societal pressures on appearance.

In preparation for migration to AM Quartex, the University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press is taking the opportunity to reassess its practices related to the quality of images that are created and displayed digitally. Learn more in part two of this guest blog series.

Seventy years on from publication of the first issue, Emily Stafford, AM Editor, explores how the American Committee on Africa’s newsletter, Africa Today, served the committee’s aim of informing the American public about African affairs and built on the collective power of small individual actions to effect change.

In the first of a guest blog series from the University of Delaware, discover the challenges and legacy systems limiting usage of the library's digitised special collections, and how the library team arrived at the decision to migrate its many-faceted, multimedia collections to AM Quartex.

As Los Angeles prepares for the 2028 Olympic Games, Matt Brand, Editor, delves into the city’s 1956 bid, revealing surprising twists and turns through promotional material and behind-the-scenes correspondence featured in The Olympic Movement: Sport, Global Politics, and Identity.

Discover the Mexican Revolution through the lens of Sara Castrejón, a trailblazing female photographer of the era. In this blog, AM’s Niamh Coffey delves into the transformative power of photojournalism, revealing how it brings to light the often-overlooked stories of marginalized individuals who shaped modern Mexico, yet remain hidden in conventional historical narratives.

Eighty years on from the occupation of Hungary by German troops during the Second World War, one woman’s diaries offer a personal perspective on a globally significant event. This blog explores the accounts of Scottish journalist Margaret Mackenzie Scott as she navigates her new reality under German occupation far from her homeland.

Following momentous votes in both France and the United Kingdom over the past month, Assistant Editor Alex Barr reflects on South Africa's 1984 general election, which marked a pivotal moment in apartheid history. Spearheaded by the nascent United Democratic Front, a mass boycott of this election undermined the legitimacy of the government and provided new impetus to the anti-apartheid liberation struggle.

The way we approach research and teaching with primary sources has been transformed by digital progress. By improving the accessibility and ease with which students can now find and interrogate source material, students are able to learn new digital literacy skills and improve their academic success. This blog explores the importance of digitsation and digital literacy, showcasing how these tools offer a more immersive learning experience for students. 

Primary sources can transform the learning experiences of students and are vital for exploring neglected, forgotten or silenced narratives. Providing fresh understanding and context to the past can help students challenge and critically engage with these sources, improving research methodologies and success.In this blog post, we explore the importance of collaborating with librarians and archivists to discover underrepresented and marginalised primary sources, unearthing hidden voices in the process.

Discover the rich history of McEwan's department stores in our latest blog post by Lara Luker. Unearth the transformation from a small ironmongery business to a household name, and its impact on consumer trends and societal norms through material from The Transformation of Shopping: Department Stores, Social Change and Consumerism, 1830-1994. Dive into the evolution of shopping from early expansion to 'big-box' retailing, with insights from archival gems revealing the global impact of department store business practices.

Focusing on a small but enlightening informal meeting between President Nixon and UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson at the U.S Airbase Mildenhall in August 1969, this blog highlights some of the key points raised between the two leaders regarding the Paris peace talks and the ongoing war in Vietnam within the newest module for Conflict in Indochina: Foreign Office files for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, 1959-1979.

How students approach primary sources in their research can transform their learning outcomes and research engagement. In this blog, discover how supporting students with digital platforms and providing them with hands-on opportunities can increase student success and encourage independent learning. 

Learning the skills to interpret primary sources can greatly enhance a student's academic success. This blog post, featuring conversations from the CHOICE Authority File podcast, explores the benefits of tools like AM Research Skills. Featuring learning tools, case studies, and practice sources, these resources help students learn how to evaluate and interpret primary sources, foster independent learning, and bolster their research capabilities.