The essential crowdsourced archive of personal and family photography documenting everyday life and popular culture in Britain.
Created from photographs contributed by members of the public, The People’s Archive brings together personal records of family life, work, leisure, music, football, fashion, housing, childhood and community.
British Culture Archive began receiving personal and family photographs soon after it was established in 2017. The People’s Archive developed from these submissions as a dedicated part of BCA’s wider archival work.
The collection is largely formed from snapshots made to record personal events, relationships and daily experience rather than for professional or commissioned use. These photographs are often described as vernacular photography.
Personal photographs can record situations that professional photographers may not have been able to access: inside homes, workplaces, families, friendships, holidays, hobbies and social groups. Accompanied by information supplied by contributors, they provide a direct record of fashion, interiors, relationships, industry, celebrations and everyday life across different periods of British life.
The People’s Archive sits alongside the professionally produced documentary photography represented by BCA while remaining distinct in its origin and purpose.
Share and preserve your stories and snapshots of life growing up in Britain! From everyday life to special moments, your memories enrich our collective history and bring the People’s Archive to life.
Are you a community group or collective that would like to host one of our People’s Archive workshops? Are workshops offer a chance to sit down and talk about our shared personal histories, where you can bring your photographs and upload them to The People’s Archive.