The story of
Louis Wain
Artist and illustrator Louis Wain (1860–1939) achieved great fame for his whimsical drawings of cats, but his story is also a sad one of personal tragedy.
Stories from the collection
Discover the stories behind the collection. Learn about the people, places and events featured in our records.
Animals in the archive
Go beyond people and places to explore how creatures of all kinds have found their way into our collection.
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Record revealed
List of animals held in the ‘Bear Garden’ in Elizabethan Southwark
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.
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The story of
Judy, the only dog registered as a prisoner of war
Judy's remarkable story is one of capture, survival and courage, and offers a unique tale of internment during the war.
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Record revealed
Sir Henry Cole’s rat
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.
Discover all stories
Browse and explore the human stories behind The National Archives’ collection.
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Focus on
Salvage on the South Bank: After the Festival of Britain
The 1951 Festival of Britain transformed London’s South Bank with an array of new buildings and gardens. What happened after it closed?
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Focus on
Britain's role in The Front Palace Crisis
Discover how a ship's surgeon unknowingly recorded a critical event that reshaped Siam’s government forever.
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The story of
The General Strike
In May 1926 over 1.5 million UK workers went on strike, bringing Britain to a standstill. Our records provide an insight into its origins and impact.
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Record revealed
Love letter from John Laurens to his wife, Martha Manning
NewExplore this love letter from John Laurens, one of George Washington’s most trusted soldiers, expresses his love for his wife during the American Revolutionary.
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Record revealed
A plea for protection from Captain Jones’s raid
This letter tells the story of a daring attack on a British town during the American Revolutionary War.
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Record revealed
Operations record book featuring the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force
This record explores how airwomen spent their work and leisure time at a Royal Air Force base during the Second World War.
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The story of
Mary II’s love letters to William III
Buried among a collection of official documents curated by William III are an unusual find: expressions of love.
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Focus on
Mary Parker: Wine trader and shipowner
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.
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Record revealed
Katherine Howard's letter to Thomas Culpeper
The National Archives holds a letter written by Queen Katherine Howard to the man that she had a secret relationship with – Thomas Culpeper.
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The story of
The Treason Trial in South Africa, 1956–1961
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.
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Focus on
The birth of the travel guide
In the 19th century travel evolved from an aristocratic privilege to middle-class reality. Explore how rail guides made this possible.
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The story of
Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
The enduring love shared by Elizabeth I (1533–1603) and Robert Dudley (1542–1588) helps to explain why Elizabeth never married.