Free online access to 20th century cabinet papers
New website provides unprecedented access to key governmental papers
The National Archives today launch Cabinet Papers, 1915-1977, a ground-breaking education website concerning British governance in the 20th century that provides free online access to more than 60 years’ worth of cabinet papers.
The project was funded via the Jisc Digitisation Programme, and provides online access to more than half a million pages of cabinet minutes and memoranda. Users are able to key-word search the entire content of each record, while education tools – including interactive maps and images – will help students engage with the records and understand the way they influenced people’s lives over the years.
The website is aimed at A-level and HE students. Taking users through the key events of the 20th century, it shows how the government grappled with issues ranging from the General Strike and two world wars to the creation of the welfare state. ‘Cabinet Papers’ is an invaluable resource for students, as many of the topics covered form an integral part of related A-level and university syllabuses.
The HE section of the site covers more than 100 topics written by historians and peer-reviewed by leading academics. These packages give students an introduction to the subject area and then support them in conducting their own research.
Another exciting development online is the writing frame tool. This step-by-step framework helps students learn how to study primary sources and structure an essay around a central theme.
‘This is an outstanding resource which, for the first time, will give A-level students direct access to the actual records of the decision-making process which influenced so much of the history of the 20th century’, says Andrew Payne, Head of Education and Outreach at the National Archives.
‘For sheer knowledge-access and inspiration alone, the Cabinet Papers are invaluable. But on top of that, the powerful interactive tools in the website will support students in their analysis of the primary sources and significantly enhance their interpretative skills, which are exactly what examiners and university admissions tutors are looking for.’
Paola Marchionni, Jisc Digitisation Programme manager, says: 'The digitisation of resources like this means that students have access to historical records tracing key events in 20th century British and international history. Learners are able to access the information when they want it, how they want it and see the documents as they were originally created – including Churchill’s cigar ashes.
‘This project is funded under the Jisc digitisation programme, which aims to make available previously hard to access resources for use in teaching, learning, research and wherever possible open to the wider public too.’
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For further information please contact Katrina McClintock on 020 8392 5277.