The National Archives
Remembering Slavery: Reflections from the PASSAGE project
In this blog post, the PASSAGE team reflect on some of the histories of enslavement that have surfaced through their research.
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Dispatches
Curious stories and events from around the world.
Friday, 21 August 2026
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
The National Archives
How archives across England are sharing different sides of America’s Independence story (part two)
In his second blog this August, Joseph Kelly looks at two more archive services marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
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Monday, 17 August 2026
The National Archives
How archives across England are sharing different sides of America’s Independence story (part one)
Joseph Kelly delves into four archive services marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.
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Friday, 14 August 2026
The National Archives
Follow the acorn: Designing a symbol for long distance national trails
In this blog post, Lucy Razzall and Giorgia Tolfo investigate some of the administrative history behind marking rights of way.
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Friday, 7 August 2026
Ancient Origins
Five of the Most Impressive War Machine Artifacts Ever Recovered
Five of the Most Impressive War Machine Artifacts Ever Recovered The battlefields of history were not just sites of warfare; they represented the creativity of our military engineers as they invented deadly machines to demolish city…
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The National Archives
Uncovering precious medieval silk seal bags in our collection
Marc Vermeulen shares new discoveries made during a research project into medieval silk seal bags, highlighting the richness and diversity of the collection.
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Wednesday, 5 August 2026
The National Archives
Three archives gain accredited status for the first time
The Archive Service Accreditation Committee has awarded the coveted accredited status to 3 archives.
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Monday, 3 August 2026
The National Archives
Our first frontend library milestone
Discover our process for releasing our frontend library, TNA Frontend.
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Wednesday, 29 July 2026
The Public Domain Review
Artificial Intelligence: Ars Notoria and the Promise of Instant Knowledge
Centuries before Neo instantly mastered Kung Fu in *The Matrix*, medieval scholars found a shortcut to years of difficult study: a magical manuscript that promised to fast-track advanced learning. Anne Lawrence-Mathers investigates the…
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The Public Domain Review
Photographs of Atlantic City Sand Sculpture (ca. 1880–1920)
Photographs from when Atlantic City beaches featured artists ornately sculpting sand.
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Tuesday, 28 July 2026
The Public Domain Review
“The Persian Mâr-Nâmeh or, The Book for Taking Omens from Snakes” (1892)
A Zoroastrian text about serpents translated by the President of the Bombay Anthropological Society.
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Monday, 27 July 2026
The National Archives
Archive Rambler: from Lynmouth to Woolacombe
Giorgia Tolfo continues the second leg of her journey while exploring how archival research and walking can work together.
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The National Archives
Archive Rambler: Lynmouth and Lynton
Continuing her exploration into the combination of archival research and walking, Giorgia Tolfo sets off on the next leg of her journey.
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Tuesday, 14 July 2026
The Public Domain Review
Archie G. Norcross’ Maine Forest Fire Maps (1918–22)
Circular maps custom-made for the fire towers that once dotted the American wilderness.
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Friday, 10 July 2026
Historic Mysteries
Kathy Hobbs: The Teenager Who Predicted Her Own Murder
From the time she was eight years old, Kathy Hobbs lived under the shadow of… The post Kathy Hobbs: The Teenager Who Predicted Her Own Murder appeared first on Historic Mysteries.
Read at Historic MysteriesWednesday, 8 July 2026
Historic Mysteries
Enuma Elish: Uncovering the Ancient Babylonian Story of Creation
Before the Book of Genesis was written, the ancient Mesopotamians had their own epic tale… The post Enuma Elish: Uncovering the Ancient Babylonian Story of Creation appeared first on Historic Mysteries.
Read at Historic MysteriesThe Public Domain Review
“Worthless Idiot, Donkey Head”: Parodies of Pedantry on the Renaissance Stage
Pompous know-it-alls were once a mainstay of mockery on the Italian stage. Arnoud Visser investigates this stock character of the pedant and his association with individual superiority, social distinction, and sexual transgression,…
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The Public Domain Review
Peruvianizing Peru: Covers from Amauta Magazine (1926–30)
Cover designs for José Carlos Mariátegui’s radical Lima-based magazine.
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Tuesday, 7 July 2026
The Public Domain Review
Choice Notes on History from Notes and Queries (1858)
Selections from the long-running British journal on historical peculiarities, from the whereabouts of Mary Queen of Scot’s severed head to the identity of Charles I's hooded executioner.
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Saturday, 4 July 2026
Ancient Origins
Deciphering the Enigmatic Issyk Inscription of the Golden Man
Deciphering the Enigmatic Issyk Inscription of the Golden Man In 1969, archaeologists excavating the Issyk kurgan in southeastern Kazakhstan made a discovery that would become a national symbol: the "Golden Man." Among the more than 4,000…
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