Archives
In the belief that archives are the bedrock of historical studies, HAT promotes, encourages, helps to finance and generally supports the preservation, conservation and organisation of materials of all kinds – documents, photographs, recordings, film and video and digital files.
HAT is committed to supporting the preservation and celebration of valuable local archives through our grants system, events and other related activities.
Discover Local Archives
Hampshire has one of the richest collections of archives in the country. As well major collections – at Hampshire Record Office, Winchester, and the city archives of Southampton and Portsmouth – there are also important archives held at the Universities and a wide range of smaller collections, associated with local history and heritage groups, museums and historic sites, companies, genealogists and other individuals, and families with significant archives. Some of these collections are of national importance.
your archive
Many people have photographs, documents and materials that have personal historical value but many do not realise that these items also have a wider historical value. We strongly believe that understanding your past is key to shaping a better future and we encourage everyone to care for their own archives and to share those with us and others – whether that’s through depositing their archive in the appropriate local repository, creating an accessible archive for others or simply by sharing their stories telling us of their experience in creating an archive. This website features stories written by various authors using their own research in local archives and which we think are particularly interesting. If you have an archive-related story that you think would be of wider interest then please do tell us about it and if suitable we will add it to the stories we have published on this site.
Stories from the Archives
Series 2: Episode 8 – LGBT Histories in Hampshire
In this episode, Daniella was joined by Dr Clifford Williams, a historian researching the history of the early gay and lesbian youth groups in England, to discuss LGBT histories in Hampshire. Clifford discusses his books A History of Women policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 1915-2016 (HCHS) (2016) and Courage to Be (The Book Guild Ltd) (2021), as well as LGBT figures in Hampshire and the materials available to research these stories.
Recovering the Overlooked Stories of Women Amateur Filmmakers: Exploring the collection of Wessex Film and Sound Archive (WFSA)
Amateur filmmaking, you might be surprised to know, has been characterised by some scholars as a “feminized cultural practice.” Why, you ask? Well, it all
Series 2: Episode 7 – Hampshire under Elizabeth
This episode explores the history of Elizabethan Hampshire, during which Daniella was joined by Josh Harper, who is has a current role with the Visitor Experience, Collections, and Curatorial teams at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. During this episode, they discussed what was happening during Elizabeth I’s reign on a national and local scale, as well as what materials Josh used to study this period of history.
Series 2: Episode 6 – The History of the Hampshire Chronicle
In this latest episode, Daniella had the opportunity to speak with Zoë Viney-Burgess, a doctoral candidate at the University of Southampton and Curator of Film at Wessex Film & Sound Archive (WFSA) in Winchester, about her research into women amateur filmmakers in Hampshire.
Violet Russell’s Autograph Book: Part 2
The previous article detailed the research into Violet Russell, a VAD nurse at the Red Cross Hospital, The Close, Winchester and her autograph book recording
Violet Russell’s Autograph Book: Part 1
The Judge’s Lodgings in the Cathedral Close in Winchester was, like many large houses, requisitioned for use as a hospital by the Red Cross during