The age of emancipation

To some of us, post-1945 seems like yesterday – but if you are a younger researcher, this era could encompass several generations of your ancestors. More recent research is an important part of everyo

Kathryn Ferry delves into 20th-century holiday habits with the help of her postcard collection

From knee-length numbers to a scandalous suit denounced by the Pope, the colourful history of swimwear has been brought to life by a glamorous London exhibition. Deborah Nicholls-Lee dives in

How consumer choice became far removed from economics

Visiting Coventry in 1934, a centre of the motor industry, writer JB Priestley mused that, “The modern motor car represents an astonishing feat of human ingenuity. If we were one half so clever in the

On a cold, wintry December day in 1935, the Duke and Duchess of York arrived in Bexhill-on-Sea to open a new public venue. Lining the route were well-wishers of all ages, from Brownies and Cubs to war