During the 18th Century a powerful anti-slavery movement developed. William Dolben was a Northamptonshire landowner who was disgusted by the conditions in which enslaved Africans were forced to live. This topic explores Dolben's role in abolition through the use of archive materials.
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This year, 2007, we are commemorating the 200th anniversary of the 'Abolition of the Slave Trade Act' in 1807. Many people argue that we are still dealing with the legacies of slavery, including racism, and are in danger of ignoring the current 'enslavement' of people throughout the world. Before its eventual abolition, the slave trade formed an important part of the British and European economy. Trade in enslaved Africans and the goods they produced on American plantations made fortunes for many of those who invested, and financed the development of many of our important cities including Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow. Every region in the country would have been affected by slavery, and the lives of every class of person would have been influenced by the impact of the slave trade in some way.
There is much we know about the life of George Africanus - at first glance his story can seem quite a typical story: a young man arriving in a city to make his fortune; working at his trade; getting married and having children; buying a house; setting up a family business; voting in elections and taking his place as a respectable member of the community. In many ways though, George was not a typical man of his times; the archive items connected with this topic have been chosen to frame George's story and highlight those areas of his life that are still a mystery...
World War Two had a large impact upon the civilian population. Although many men were recruited to serve abroad, a large number stayed at home due to health/age or because they were in reserved occupations. Together, they formed the civil defence of the country. This topic contains archive materials that highlights the work of the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Service and the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) in defending Britain during World War Two.
World War Two had a big impact upon women's lives. With many men away fighting, women were called upon to fill their jobs and were recruited to do important war work. They were also encouraged to help with voluntary services that contributed to the war effort. The experience of World War Two was life changing for women of all ages and backgrounds. This topic contains archive materials that highlight the experiences of women living in the East Midlands during World War Two.
