## Please note We are refreshing our teaching resources and regularly adding new and updated ones. All of our old resources are permanently available in the [UK Government Web Archive](https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20260828114052/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/). Dismiss notification Education session # Hidden Love: LGBTQ+ lives in the 1920s and 1930s In this session students explore stories from LGBTQ+ clubs and spaces in the 1920s and 30s. They are also sensitively introduced to the complexities of using government and police records to research this history. Age ranges : Key stage 4 (Ages 14–16) : Key stage 5 (Ages 16–18) Date : All year Locations : Online, At The National Archives ![The interior of a club with no people. It is full of soft furnishings, tables and draped fabric](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/Caravan_inter.2e16d0ba.fill-900x600.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg) About this image Interior of The Caravan Club Endell Street London 1934. Catalogue reference: DPP 2/224 ## About this session ### Time period * Early Twentieth Century (1901–1945) ### Theme * LGBTQ+ history ## What to expect in the onsite workshop: In this session students will explore what original documents can reveal about spaces that LGBTQ+ people used in the 1920s and 30s. These include vibrant Soho clubs like Billie’s and Shim Sham, as well as the lonely-hearts publication 'The Link'. Students will be encouraged to carefully consider how much we can learn from state and police records about LGBTQ+ history. The two-hour workshop is led by an experienced history educator in an inspiring learning space at The National Archives in Kew. This is a special opportunity for students to handle this rich collection relating to LGBTQ+ history, including photographs, police reports and personal letters. ## What to expect in the online workshop: In the online workshop in your classroom students will explore the lives of people from the LGBTQ+ community in the past through our rich collection of documents, from personal letters to police surveillance records. The session includes the fascinating story of Cyril, who attended the Caravan Club in Soho, a LGBT+ friendly space. Learners will be encouraged to carefully consider the provenance of The National Archives collection and how much we can learn from state/police records. The one-hour online session in your classroom is led by an experienced history educator, you only need a microphone, large screen and webcam to take part. Interactive activities encourage students to discuss their ideas and work in groups using high-quality materials provided in advance by the Education team. Note: we will adapt the timing of the online workshop to fit with your lesson times. ### Contact us If you need any help with your booking, please get in touch. Telephone : [020 3908 9162](tel:02039089162) Email : [educationbookings@nationalarchives.gov.uk](mailto:educationbookings@nationalarchives.gov.uk) Copy email address ## Connections to the curriculum ### Key Stage 4 * AQA Citizenship: 3.2 Life in modern Britain * Edexcel Citizenship: Theme A: Living together in the UK ### Key Stage 5 * Edexcel History: Paper 1, Option 1: Britain transformed, 1918–97 * AQA History: 1G Challenge and transformation: Britain, c1851–1964 * AQA History: 2S The Making of Modern Britain, 1951–2007 (provides historical context to the Wolfenden Report) ## Key details Locations : * Online * At The National Archives Date : All year Price : Free Duration : * Online: 1 hour * At The National Archives: 2 hours Age ranges : Key stage 4 (Ages 14–16) : Key stage 5 (Ages 16–18) [Book now](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-national-archives-for-schools-8841509343) ## Newsletter [Be the first to hear about new education resources](https://pages.enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pages/subscribe) Subscribe to our regular newsletter for education updates and early booking for online sessions. ## More education sessions * Education session ### [Significant women](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/education-sessions/significant-women/) ![An old newspaper with tattered edges showing a photo of Amy Johnson smiling at the camera and a map of her route from Britain to Australia.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/Amy_Johnson_news.a3bfeae9.fill-600x400.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg) Key stage : KS1 In this dynamic workshop, available at The National Archives and online, children discover the lives of women through exploring original documents. * Education session ### [The Mangrove Nine](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/education-sessions/the-mangrove-nine/) ![An image of a group of protesters, including children, holding placards.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/HO325-143-3_bU84ELL.dea41e43.fill-600x400.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg) Key stage : KS3, KS4 This session for key stages 3 and 4 looks at how much documents from The National Archives reveal about the Mangrove Nine – a key case in UK Black civil rights. * Education session ### [Whitechapel](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/education-sessions/whitechapel/) ![Photograph of a poor 19th-century family sitting on a doorstep in a London street. The children are smiling at the camera.](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/media/images/A-family-in-Whitec.2e16d0ba.fill-600x400.format-jpeg.jpegquality-60.bgcolor-fff.jpg) Key stage : KS3, KS4 In this workshop, available online or at The National Archives, students investigate what made Whitechapel in 1888 an area where policing was challenging. ## Help us improve this website [Complete our short survey (opens in new tab)](https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/DN07V0/?area=footer&source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalarchives.gov.uk%2Fmd%2Feducation%2Feducation-sessions%2Fhidden-love-lgbtq-lives-in-the-1920s-and-1930s%2F) --- [Back to top](#top)