Uncovering LGBTQ+ lives in the archive

Lesson at a glance

Suitable for: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5

Time period: Empire and Industry 1750-1850, Interwar 1918-1939, Victorians 1850-1901

Curriculum topics: LGBTQ+ Histories

Suggested inquiry questions: What do the documents reveal about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the past? What role did the police/government have? Can the documents tell us everything? What other sources could you research?

Potential activities: Follow-up research into your chosen film; Identify other themes which the films explore.

Download: Lesson pack

What types of sources might be useful to find out about the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the past?

‘Uncovering LGBTQ+ lives in the archive’ is a series of films combining puppetry, model-making, and animation created by a group of eight young people in July 2022.  The project allowed the group to explore moments of LGBTQ+ history from the collection, some more well-known than others, and to interpret the documents from a 21st century perspective.  They then used their reflections to inspire the narrative and artwork for their films.

This was the first young person’s project to be run onsite since 2019.  The group worked with a filmmaking team led by Nigel Kellaway, as well as staff from the Education and Outreach department and record specialists.

The young people explored stories relating to individuals and ‘spaces’ which allowed them to consider wider themes such as the use of language, criminalisation, and communication through the 18th to 20th centuries.   Under the guidance of staff, the young people worked with original archive documents, in some cases seeing photographs of the people and places they were researching.  The group demonstrated emotional intelligence and compassion for the people whose lives they have interpreted.

The series of films can now be used by teachers and students as brief overviews or introductions to the themes explored within the films.

The following questions can be asked of each film:

  • What types of documents are shown in the films?
  • What do the documents reveal about what life was like for LGBTQ+ people at the time?
  • What themes can you identify within the films?
  • How do we view these stories today, with a contemporary perspective?
  • Can you find out how the laws affecting the lives of LGBTQ+ people have changed over time? Can you explain why?
  • Why are these documents kept at The National Archives?

Tasks

Dr James Barry

By Ellyse B

Read video transcript

Being Other

By Finch F

Read video transcript

Fanny & Stella

By Hira I

Read video transcript

25 Fitzroy Square

By Jacob R

Read video transcript

The Shim Sham Club

By Louisa R

Read video transcript

Radclyffe Hall

By Matilda B

Read video transcript

The Link

By Tom D

Read video transcript

Cyril and the Caravan Club

By Zhitong L

Read video transcript



Back to top

Lesson at a glance

Suitable for: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5

Time period: Empire and Industry 1750-1850, Interwar 1918-1939, Victorians 1850-1901

Curriculum topics: LGBTQ+ Histories

Suggested inquiry questions: What do the documents reveal about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in the past? What role did the police/government have? Can the documents tell us everything? What other sources could you research?

Potential activities: Follow-up research into your chosen film; Identify other themes which the films explore.

Download: Lesson pack

Related resources

LGBTQ+ history in the archives

How much can police records reveal about the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the past?

Dr James Barry

Why was he significant in 19th century medicine?