Stories from the collection

This deed reveals some of the animals kept to perform on the Tudor stage or in arenas. It includes ‘an old she bear called Nan’, some bulls, a horse and an ape.

Judy's remarkable story is one of capture, survival and courage, and offers a unique tale of internment during the war.

Our collection includes many weird and wonderful records – one of the weirdest is undoubtedly a small box containing the remains of two long-dead rats.

This letter tells the story of a daring attack on a British town during the American Revolutionary War.

This record explores how airwomen spent their work and leisure time at a Royal Air Force base during the Second World War.

Buried among a collection of official documents curated by William III are an unusual find: expressions of love.

Letters from Mary Parker, a trader based in London whose business spread across the Atlantic, reveal her fascinating story as a woman merchant during wartime.

The National Archives holds a letter written by Queen Katherine Howard to the man that she had a secret relationship with – Thomas Culpeper.

In June 1955, a multi-racial group came together to write the Freedom Charter, demanding racial equality and democracy in South Africa. They were put on trial.

In the 19th century travel evolved from an aristocratic privilege to middle-class reality. Explore how rail guides made this possible.

The enduring love shared by Elizabeth I (1533–1603) and Robert Dudley (1542–1588) helps to explain why Elizabeth never married.

In an era when the law criminalised your love, how was it possible to meet members of the same sex and communicate?

Explore how Elke Mackenzie, a pioneering transgender botanist, helped reshaped our understanding of polar exploration and LGBT+ history.

Explore the parties of James I and VI's court as told by the royal household's financial accounts.

Though surveillance documents, we can learn about vibrant gatherings in the 1920s, the people involved and the passionate, intimate letters that survive.