#CloseUp "Magic fish which undergoes contortions under influence of warmth & moisture of the hand. Used by donor's father c.1818 to detect culprits among his children through its behaviour on the palm of the hand. They greatly dreaded its power of detecting the guilty."

Dr. William Conan Davis was the first black man to recieve a PhD from the University of Idaho in 1965. He also co-created the formula for Dasani brand water for Coca-Cola.

Nice illustration of a Purple-shot copper butterfly, Lycaena alciphron ssp. gordius. From Bernhard Gerhard, ‘Versuch einer Monographie der europäischen Schmetterlingsarten …’ (Hamburg, 1853). S391.b.85.7 Cambridge University Library

#OtD 13 Aug 1880 Mary Macarthur was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She was central to the working-class wing of the suffragettes who opposed WWI and votes just for rich women, which made her unpopular with middle-class suffragettes stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8451/m…

Many people are unsure about what an archive is so we've made this short video to help! #TheLondonArchive

Did you know allotments played an important role in the First World War? They helped recovering soldiers process trauma when returning home. These records show a charity set up to raise funds for soldiers' allotments and a plan for an Ashington allotment. #NationalAllotmentsWeek

In medieval times, when photocopiers didn't exist, scribes would make multiple copies of the same document, on a single piece of parchment, and separate them for each party. Today's blogpost analyses an early example of a 'chirograph', dating from 1175. blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanus…

A deadly riot broke out in Springfield #OnThisDay in 1908. White mobs burned African-American homes and businesses and lynched at least two people. Today, a sculpture memorializing the tragedy stands next to the ALPLM. More: ow.ly/qrrP50SXcNR #ILhistory #CivilRights

Today (16/08/2024) marks 100 years since the Dawes Plan was accepted. The plan ended a crisis in European diplomacy brought about by the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr in response to Germany defaulting on its reparations payments. buff.ly/3ykpGBy

The short yet bloody Anglo-Zanzibar War took place on this day (27/08/2024) in 1896. Despite lasting only 38 minutes, the war included an artillery battle and naval action which claimed around 500 lives. buff.ly/4dRZeyl

Today (03/09/2024) marks 85 years since Britain and France declared war against Germany. As we remember this day, it is important to recognise and honour the millions who fought, those who lost their lives, and the communities affected. buff.ly/4cAwI3e

New contextual essay for our recently published collection, Pandemics, Society, and Public Health, 1517–1925. Sandra Hempel explores how British understandings of cholera developed throughout the nineteenth century. buff.ly/4g7CV9W

Free witchcraft history. Very pleased to see you can now virtually borrow for free my 1999 book "Witchcraft, magic and culture 1736-1951" from the Internet Archive. Witches, cunning-folk, fortune-telling, and much more. archive.org/details/witchc…

Bill Morris, the first Black General Secretary of a major UK trade union, led the TGWU with a commitment to justice, equality, and workers' rights, leaving a powerful legacy that continues to inspire future generations. #ReclaimingNarratives #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM2024

Continuing our Turner themed week with a historic event depicted by Turner which is very significant to the archive ‘The Burning of the Houses of Parliament’. Here is one of the seemingly harmless tally sticks which caused the fire. #TowerTurner

In August 1967, Thurgood Marshall became the first Black American to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court Justice. He believed his responsibility as a lawyer and judge was to provide legal recourse to the powerless: bit.ly/3YYuiIF