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Described at the time in the pages of the Western Mail as ‘one of the most sensational events in the criminal annals of England,’ the arrest and prosecution of Oscar Wilde on charges of ‘gross indecency’ is a tragic chapter in LGBTQ history, and represents the wider persecution faced by the LGBTQ community at the time, as well as throughout the ensuing decades.Oscar Wilde | Illustrated London News | 27 February 1892In this special blog, we will explore how newspapers at the…

This week on The Archive we have added 78,808 brand new pages – incorporating two very special new titles and spanning nearly 100 years of headlines.Register now and explore the ArchiveMeanwhile, we have added over 10,000 pages to Truth, the groundbreaking journal founded by man of many trades Henry Labouchère. Theatre owner, politician and writer, Labouchère was a divisive character who used the pages of Truth, amongst other things, to campaign against women’s suffrage. One of Truth‘s many claims to fame…

This week The British Newspaper Archive is thrilled to announce the release of a brand new title, The Atlas or, in its full form, The Atlas and General Newspaper and Journal of Literature.  The size of the paper caused a sensation when it first came out.  The London based newspapers was printed on 40cm sheets, double the size of average papers, making it the largest newspaper.  Its size was reflected in the price of 10d, which would be close to £5…

The British Newspaper Archives holds a unique collection of newspapers.  Along with local and national papers, you will find a number of speciality titles.   Here are some of the titles we hold that focus on the themes of migration and shipping.The Homeward Mail from India, China, and the EastFirst published on 1 January 1857 by Messrs. Smith, Elder, & Co. this title is a compendium of political, military, and economic news from the East. A predominant part of the paper is…

The British Newspaper Archive brings you news from India, China, and further East during the height of the British Empire.  The Homeward Mail from India, China and the East was first published in 1857 by Messrs. Smith, Elder, & Co. and provided Britain with news from its colonies in the East.  The publishing company also produced the first Dictionary of National Biography and worked with major authors such as Charlotte Brontë, George Eliot, Alfred Tennyson, and Arthur Conan Doyle.  Along with The…

A 13-year-old schoolboy has held the record for the highest cricket score for over 100 years.Arthur Edward Jeune ‘James’ Collins, also known by the initials A. E. J. Collins, scored an incredible 628 not out in June 1899. The cricket match took place over four days at Clifton College in Bristol.Blackburn Standard reports a score of ‘628 not out’A copy of the Blackburn Standard printed on 1 July 1899 reveals that Collins achieved the majority of his team’s total score. Out of a…

Geoff Dibb, author of Oscar Wilde – A Vagabond with a Mission, got in touch to tell us about his research and how The British Newspaper Archive has helped.We’d love to hear about your own research experiences – email [email protected] to tell us your story.**************Researching Oscar Wilde in librariesI began researching Oscar Wilde’s lecture tours of Britain and Ireland after reading a letter from Wilde, written while lecturing in Leeds. I live about 10 miles south and was amazed that…