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Topic Collections (1937 - 60)
Mass-Observation personnel investigated a number of specific topics from 1937 onwards. These investigations often spanned several years, and the resulting materials is organized as a series of over 80 Topic Collections. These are listed alphabetically below.
The topic collections consist of project plans, internal memoranda, correspondence, drafts and final versions of questionnaires, instructions to investigators and the results of surveys. Mass-Observation also collected press cuttings, articles, leaflets, pamphlets, posters, tickets, sketches and other ephemera relevant to individual surveys.
Some of the Topic Collections have been microfilmed and are indicated below - further information available.
Please note the following Topic Collections will be unavailable until early 2009 due to digitisation:
TC 17 Film; TC 20 Reading Habits; TC 28 Dreams; TC 47 Religion; TC 49 Victory Celebrations; TC 72 Captial Punishment.
Searching the Topic Collections
You can either search for specific terms, or browse through the titles and descriptions below. Each Topic Collection title links to the associated catalogue of items in the collection.
A
ADULT AND
            HIGHER EDUCATION 1937-48 (available on microfilm)
          TC36 1 box
          Material collected during the Worktown project in Bolton (1937) about
          WEA classes, educational facilities for unemployed people, summer schools
          etc.
          Also included is information on evening classes in London (1939); information
          on Oxford University; Goldsmiths Teacher Training College; attitudes
          of students, including leisure activities; miscellaneous papers on Universities,
        evening classes.
AIR RAIDS
          1938-45 (available on microfilm)
      TC23 12 boxes
      Preparations for air raids, and assorted (and uneven) material collected
      from cities around Britain concerning the raids and their effect on daily
      life. Material includes Fulham ARP study, 1939; printed information; various
      observations, descriptions, overheard conversations collected in shelters;
      material on ARP personnel and the Home Guard, and on the wearing of gas
      masks. Related material may be found in the TOWN AND DISTRICT SURVEY Topic
      Collection, and various File Reports. 
AIR RAID SHELTER COMPETITION 1939
      TC35 Shared box
      Response to the "Name a Shelter" competition organised by the
      Sunday Graphic in early 1939. It consists of 247 postcards with suggested
      names. 
ANTI-SEMITISM
          1939-51 (available on microfilm)
      TC62 4 boxes
      Material arising from M-O's surveys of 1939, 1946-47 and 1951 on attitudes
      to Jews in the light of contemporary world events. The 1939 survey was
      a general one of London's East End but it generated a substantial amount
      of information about attitudes to the plight of European Jews and to those
      living in Britain. The Anti-Semitism and Attitudes to Palestine surveys
      of 1946-47 are linked with Jewish resettlement. The collection as a whole
      includes ephemera on Jewish culture and reactions towards it. 
ART 1938-49 
      TC33 3 boxes
      This group of papers relates to the Ashington Group of Artists, 1938, the
      Unprofessional Painting exhibitions (1938-9) and other aspects of visual
      art. Also included are studies of the impact of war on artists, the Artists'
      International Association, the BBC and art, the War Artists' exhibition,
      pavement art and exhibitions from home and abroad (1942-3). 
ASTROLOGY
          AND SPIRITUALISM 1938-47 (available
          on microfilm)
      TC8 1 box
      The collection contains interviews with astrologers and spiritualists;
      reports on palmistry, psychometry, psychic displays and visits to spiritualist
      churches; brochures, advertisements, leaflets, horoscopes, cuttings, and
      panel reports on psychic experiences. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B
        BEVERIDGE
        REPORT SURVEYS 1942-7 (available on microfilm)
        TC53 4 boxes
        This Topic Collection consists of replies to a March 1942 questionnaire
        on social services; pamphlets, press-cuttings and miscellaneous reactions
        on the publication of the report; planning material on the Voluntary
        Social Services Enquiry 1947; publicity material, reports and ephemera
        dealing
        with voluntary organisations; material on social service surveys of Dunster
        and Luccombe 1947, and also proposals for new social services and papers
        on human needs in planning 1947; replies to a questionnaire asking for
        definitions of terms e.g. charity, social service etc; interviews, reports
        and publications on Friendly Societies 1947; and questionnaires on attitudes
        to social services and voluntary work 1947. 
BIRD-NESTING SURVEY 1951
      TC30 1 box
      A study of general knowledge about birds and nesting. Papers include questionnaires
      and essays completed by schoolchildren, printed ornithological material,
      correspondence with Richard Fitter (ornithologist and Mass-Observer) and
      an exploration of links between delinquency and bird-nesting. 
BLIND PEOPLE 1947
      TC31 1 box
      A collection of surveys on attitudes to blind people carried out in Bolton,
      Bristol, Liverpool and Middlesbrough. Included are notes of interviews
      with flag sellers, children's attitudes, facilities and charities for the
      blind and the attitudes of blind people themselves. 
"BRITAIN CAN MAKE IT" EXHIBITION
          1946
      TC26 5 boxes
      An investigation into reactions to the design exhibition held at the Victoria
      and Albert Museum, September, 1946. Material comprises questionnaires,
      observations and ephemera. 
BROWNS OF CHESTER 1942-55
      TC24 11 boxes
      A historical study of the origins of the clothing shop, Browns of Chester,
      with notes on the town itself. Documents collected include interviews with
      staff and shoppers, sales catalogues and correspondence. Drafts of the
      M-O publication Browns and Chester (1947) are included, as well as later
      studies of Browns (1955) and studies of other Chester businesses (1950-51). 
THE BUDGET, MONEY MATTERS AND HOUSEHOLD BUDGETING 1939-50 
      TC57 6 boxes
      Miscellaneous material on the effects of wartime and post-war changes in
      the economy. Reactions to wartime national budgets and their effects on
      taxation, income and sales are included, together with papers concerning
      the financial press, the devaluation of the pound in 1949 and the general
      postwar economic situation. Studies of rents in unfurnished accommodation
      (1950) and living on fixed incomes (1947) provide information on contemporary
      home economics. 
BY-ELECTIONS 1937-47
      TC46 18 boxes
      Coverage of over 50 By-elections. Most of these investigations were summarised
      as File Reports. The interviews, observations, cuttings and ephemera gathered
      here contain the source material for the Reports. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C
        CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SURVEY 1938-56
        TC72 7 boxes
        In 1948 and 1955, M-O conducted two surveys on behalf of the Daily Telegraph
        on attitudes to the death penalty: the first survey resulted in 295 replies,
        the second in 4000. The main body of this collection is made up of questionnaire
        replies which provide details of the social and political affiliations
        of the respondents as well as papers concerned with survey organisation
        and analysis. The earlier constituents of the collection are solicited
        comments on capital punishment (1938) and observations of public reaction
        to an execution in 1946. Published material relating to the abolition
        debate is included. 
CHILDREN
          AND EDUCATION 1937-52 (available on microfilm)
      TC59 7 boxes
      This collection describes child behaviour in observations, ephemera, interviews
      and essays written by children themselves on a range of subjects. Much
      of the collection is concerned with the life of children in wartime: their
      interests, environment, school life and perceptions. 
COAL MINING 1938-48
      TC64 2 boxes
      The first part of this collection consists of a survey of two Welsh mining
      communities, Blaina and Nantyglo, over the period 1938-1944. The survey
      resulted in local demographic and administrative material as well as that
      concerning mining activity, and the manuscript of a proposed book drawing
      on these. The remaining material includes miscellaneous surveys of coal
      mines and miners (1939-48) including surveys commissioned by the National
      Coal Board of mining in the Doncaster area. 
COMMERCIAL
          ADVERTISING 1938-47 (available
          on microfilm)
      TC22 1 box
      This is a small, miscellaneous collection relating to press advertising.
      Various advertising products are also included. 
COMMODITIES
          1941-64 (available on microfilm)
      TC78 6 boxes
      A miscellaneous collection of surveys on attitudes to various commodities.
      Items covered include washing machines, baked beans, razor blades, "Bob
      Martin" tablets for dogs, soap and detergents, bananas and fizzy drinks 
CONSCIENTIOUS
          OBJECTION AND PACIFISM 1939-44 (available on microfilm)
      TC6 3 boxes
      This group of papers consists mainly of individual acounts sent to M-O
      by members of the panel who were conscientious objectors themselves or
      who were engaged in pacifist activity. Also included are descriptions of
      meetings and other events and various printed leaflets. The third box contains
      results of a survey on attitudes to Conscientious Objectorss. 
CO-OPERATIVE
          STORES SURVEY 1939-47  (available
          on microfilm)
      TC21 1 box
      Material resulting from M-O's survey of the London Co-operative Society
      Stores, 1946-47, with a small amount of earlier material. The survey included
      a number of questionnaires put to customers or potential customers of the
      Co-op, and observations of the behaviour of shoppers. 
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D
        DAY NURSERIES
        1941-46 (available on microfilm)
        TC19 1 box
        Research carried out into the availability of day nurseries and the kind
        of care offered. The collection includes polemical literature, interviews
        with nursery staff and associated administrators, newspaper cuttings
        and correspondence about the type of facilities provided. 
DEMOLITION IN LONDON 1941
      TC15 Shared box
      One file containing detailed reports written by an Observer working for
      a London demolition contractor clearing bombed buildings. 
DOGS IN WARTIME
          1939-42 (available on microfilm)
      TC79 1 box
      Public attitudes to dogs in wartime, problems of looking after dogs in
      air raids, food difficulties: surveys of dog owners and non-owners and
      consultation with organisations and professional breeders. Main survey
      carried out in various areas of London and Oxford 1941. Also covers pet
      food, pet accessories and pet shops. 
DREAMS 1937-48
      TC28 1 box
      Reports on their dreams from members of M-O's volunteer panel. 
DRINKING HABITS 1939-63
      TC85 22 boxes
      This collection contains pre-war and wartime material on juvenile drinking,
      women in pubs, children's essays on drink, also the big 1947-8 survey on
      drinking habits together with temperance literature, and market research
      from the 1950s and 1960s conducted for the breweries Guinness, Courage
      and Double Diamond. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E
        EVACUATION
        1939-44 (available on microfilm)
        TC5 2 boxes
        The early evacuation of children from urban centres: personal experiences,
        observations, accounts from teachers and people whose homes became billets.
        Printed material was also collected. The effects on shops were noted.
        The second box includes observations of "trekkers" out of London. 
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F
        FAMILY PLANNING
        1944-49 (available on microfilm)
        TC3 4 boxes
        This collection is largely the product of a series of M-O surveys of
        family size and behaviour. A survey of women's attitudes to family size
        was conducted
        in 1944 in the London, Gloucester, Kent and Oxford areas, and also among
        women working for Osram Ltd. The questionnaire includes work, future
        hopes, number of children (or the number hoped for), attitudes to careers,
        housing,
        religion and birth control. Approximately one thousand women were interviewed.
        The 1947 survey was conducted in London and includes comments on weddings,
        family size, parental control, sexual behaviour, engagements and divorce.
        This survey and the Ideal Family Survey, 1949, involved interviews with
        both men and women. 
FAMOUS PERSONS 1938-52
      TC14 1 box
      A miscellaneous collection of surveys on attitudes to a selection of well-known
      figures: Chamberlain, Churchill, Hess, Hitler, Himmler, Roosevelt, Driberg,
      Heath (hanged for murder), King George VI, Gracie Fields and H G Wells. 
FILMS 1937-48
      TC17 15 boxes
      This large collection is primarily one of descriptions of individual films
      shown over the period, observations and interviews on their public reception.
      Many of these films were Government information 'shorts': M-O analyses
      were summarised and presented to the Ministry of Information as File Reports.
      General analyses of the industry, specific accounts of cinema attendances,
      volunteer reports and related ephemera were collected. Also included are
      questionnaires (1940-42) on shops and shopping habits as part of the reporting
      on the MOI film "Rush Hour". 
FOOD 1937-53 (available
      on microfilm)
      TC67 9 boxes
      A collection of surveys, reports, notes and published literature concerning
      patterns of food consumption. The wartime material covers aspects of food
      rationing and control including catering, official information and the
      black market. Sample menus covering the period 1941-1952 also make up part
      of the collection. 
      FORCES (MEN)
      1939-56 (available on microfilm)
      TC29 5 boxes
      Attitudes and personal reports from male volunteer Mass-Observers in the
      Armed Forces including the Conscription Survey (1939); recruitment (1939);
      attitudes of the public (1940-41) soldier-civilian relations; the air war
      (1940); exhibitions and fund-raising events (1940-45). The collection also
      contains accounts of life in the Forces, the Home Guard, Army Education,
      and survey material on deserters (1947) and recruitment (1956). For women
      in the forces see WOMEN IN WARTIME.
FUEL 1937-47 (available
      on microfilm)
      TC68 5 boxes
      Material on the measures and effects of fuel rationing and control. The
      papers resulting from M-O's monthly surveys of fuel use between October
      and December 1942 are included here. They cover economy measures and reactions
      to various official information. Box 5 has been given over to the fuel
      crisis of 1947: questionnaires, special directive responses and notes on
      the effects of fuel shortage and the intervention of government. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G
        GAMES AND
        JIGSAWS 1937-41 
        TC 41: Shared box 
This collection contains lists of games compiled by 10 year old girls, an M-O report on party games old and new and observations on games 1937-40. There are also notes on jigsaw puzzles 1940-1.
GAS MASKS
          1939-43 (available on microfilm)
      TC55 2 boxes
      A survey of gas mask carrying as an indicator of wartime morale; observations
      of testing and instructions; counts of people carrying them and government
      instructions and advice about gas masks. 
GENERAL ELECTIONS 1945-55
      TC76 9 boxes
      Material collected during the election campaigns of 1945 and 1950 includes
      reports on attitudes to issues involved and their presentation by the parties,
      notes on election meetings and campaign publicity, and related ephemera.
      The 1951 and 1955 material is less substantial, consisting mainly of statistical
      analyses, although Churchill's resignation in 1955 is covered. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H
        HAPPINESS 1938
        TC7 1 box
        This material relates entirely to a leaflet "What is Happiness?",
        a survey on attitudes in the guise of a competition, organised by Professor
        J Hilton in 1938. It includes original responses to the competition and
        completed follow-up questionnaires.
HEALTH 1939-49 (available
      on microfilm)
      TC13 6 boxes
      Topics covered include the effects of war on health, proposals for a state
      medical service, reviews of press coverage, and blood donations. Details
      exist of the 1949 National Health Service Survey, the Survey of Chemists
      Shops (1949) and Dentistry as a Career Survey (1955). 
HOLIDAYS
          1937-51  (available on microfilm)
      TC58 2 boxes
      A collection of notes, observations, reports and questionnaires on attitudes
      to popular holidays and holiday pastimes. The Beveridge Holiday Questionnaire
      (1947) studied holiday hopes, habits and finance, and opinions of holiday
      camps (reports of which are also part of the collection). Questionnaire
      replies exist from Birmingham, London, York and Exmoor. Earlier material
      documents attitudes to the 'Holidays at Home' campaign (1942-43) and ephemera
      related to British holidays covers the whole period. Some parts of the
      collection are concurrent with M-O's Worktown project. 
HOUSING 1938-48 (available
      on microfilm)
      TC1 10 boxes
      Most of this material relates to the M-O publication People's Homes researched
      and written by Richard Fitter between 1941 and 1942. Additional material
      on pre-war housing issues and post-war reconstruction is included, with
      details of exhibitions and ephemera. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I
        INDUSTRY 1940-55
        TC75 12 boxes
        This collection concentrates mainly on industrial relations and factory
        conditions and their effects on wartime production. Most of the material
        was collected in 1941-42 in preparation for two M-O publications, People
        in Production (1942) and War Factory (1943). 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J
        JOKES
        TC 41: Shared box 
A collection of jokes from various sources together with interviews with humorists 1940.
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY 1946-47
      TC11 2 boxes
      This material relates entirely to work carried out for an M-O publication
      Juvenile Delinquency (Falcon Press, 1948). It includes first-hand accounts
      of life in Borstal. Box 2 contains case histories of boys in Borstal, interviews
      and observations at Feltham Prison and extracts from psychology publications
      on criminality. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
K
        KOREA 1950
        TC9 1 box
        Material from one study conducted in London on public reactions to the
        war in Korea: the implications for world relations, the role of the USA
        and General MacArthur, the resignation of Sir Stafford Cripps and general
        political views. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L
        LABOUR PARTY CAMPAIGN 'ASK YOUR DAD' 1948
        TC10 1 box
        Response to a campaign mounted by the Labour Party to remind the public
        that the Tories had presided over bad social conditions and high unemployment
        between the wars. A special study of the slogan 'Ask Your Dad' during
        the Edmonton by-election 1948. 
LEISURE 1940-47 (available
      on microfilm)
      TC80 6 boxes
      Four major surveys covering the likelihood of war, pubs, clubs, societies,
      religious practices, astrology, political allegiance, sporting activity
      and spectatorship, Pools, gambling, Sunday sport, world affairs, entertainment,
      reading, expenditure, newspaper readership. Includes biographical information
      about the respondents. Major leisure surveys were carried out in 1947.
      See also Topic Collections on DRINKING HABITS, GAMBLING, SPORT. 
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
          1938-48 (available on microfilm)
      TC16 6 boxes
      This collection has been organised under the general headings: Funfairs
      1940-46; Pantomime 1939-44; Music Hall 1938-44; Theatre; Programmes and
      Advertisements; and Concerts 1937-48. Specific accounts of individual venues
      and events are included with ephemera, interviews and reports. The effects
      of war on performance content are noted. 
LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS 1937-51
      TC84 1 box
      This Topic Collection consists of written reports, leaflets and other ephemera
      collected during local council election campaigns throughout Britain. 
LONDON SURVEY
          1940 (available on microfilm)
      TC65 5 boxes
      The results of a survey carried out in London between July and October
      1940 and sorted into fourteen weekly sections. The material contains reactions
      to contemporary news items and the range of subjects studied is broad,
      although M-O was particularly concerned with public morale immediately
      before and during the first air raids on London. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M
        MAGAZINES 1940-53
        TC37 1 box
        A small selection of Punch magazines from 1940 and 1951 (Festival of
        Britain edition) with a copy of Country Life from the Coronation, June
        1953. 
MEET YOURSELF ON SUNDAY 1948-50
      TC81 1 box
      Chiefly background material for the M-O book of the same name (1949) with
      organisational material, correspondence and historical information; observations
      and surveys of Sunday activities. 
MUSIC, DANCING
          AND JAZZ 1939-41 (available
          on microfilm)
      TC38 9 boxes
      An assortment of items relating to contemporary music and dancing including
      material resulting from M-O's Jazz Survey (1939), and the 1941 Dance Music
      Survey. Other material includes general notes, descriptions of incidents,
      events and related ephemera such as lyrics, sheet music etc. Related material
      can be found in LIVE ENTERTAINMENT . 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N/O
        NEWSPAPER READING 1937-62
        TC61 15 boxes
        Material includes a sequence of questionnaires and detailed surveys (1948,
        1956-62) investigating public reading habits and preferences. Much of
        it was used as the basis of the M-O publication, The Press and its Readers
        (1949), and complements the Topic Collection PRESS
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P/Q
        PEACE AND THE PUBLIC SURVEY 1956
        TC56 2 boxes
        Questionnaires and responses on attitudes to war, its prevention and
        the role of the United Nations in world affairs. The material was gathered
        in the wake of events in that year in Hungary and Egypt. It includes
        methodological
        notes and a final report. (An earlier survey, carried out by M-O for
        the New Commonwealth Society, was published as Peace and the Public,
        1947
PERSONAL
          APPEARANCE AND CLOTHES 1938-54 (available
          on microfilm)
      TC18 5 boxes
      Observations, interview responses, press cuttings and reports on general
      fashion trends. Attitudes to, and the effects of, clothes rationing and
      wartime austerity are documented. 
PHOTOGRAPHY 1940-44
      TC52 1 box
      A small collection of printed material advertising photographic equipment,
      also detailing unrestricted wartime subjects, questionnaires and interview
      notes on reactions to various photographic and poster subjects. 
PICTURE POSTCARD ANALYSIS 1940-41
      TC39 Shared box
      Interviews with those involved in the industry and analysis of changing
      subject matter in wartime. 
POETRY 1939-40
      TC73 1 box
      A small collection of published and unpublished poems together with material
      on the popularity of poetry, a questionnaire on attitudes to Horizon ,
      analysis of war poetry and a selection of related articles and press cuttings. 
POLICE, LAW AND INVASION PREPARATIONS 1939-41
      TC54 1 box
      Material concerning wartime security. The collection contains notes on
      defence regulations and their enforcement, the work of the judiciary and
      invasion planning. The Invasion Leaflet Survey (1940) is an analysis, compiled
      from questionnaire replies from London and the Home Counties, of the effectiveness
      of Ministry of Information literature on invasion. 
POLITICAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR 1938-56
      TC25 19 boxes
      An extensive collection on attitudes to a wide range of political subjects.
      These include reactions to war events, attitudes to aliens and other nations
      including USA and USSR, Chamberlain and Churchill, USA entering the war,
      attitudes to Stafford Cripps and feelings about the future of the Empire.
      The collection is only a small part of all material collected by M-O about
      political attitudes and behaviour and should be used in conjunction with
      other sources of information in the Archive. 
POSTERS 1939-47
      TC42 5 boxes
      Data collected during a series of poster surveys, notable as a record of
      attitudes evoked by wartime public information campaign posters and recording
      in part M-O's liaison with the Ministry of Information. The collection
      is also concerned with some commercial advertising and complements the
      M-O poster collection. A related Topic Collection is PROPAGANDA AND MORALE.
POST WAR
          HOPES 1944 (available on microfilm)
      TC40 1 box
      A small collection of responses to an essay competition organised by the
      British Legion in 1944. Related analysis shows directions of interest and
      opinion under several group headings, including employment, education,
      economics and reconstruction. Related information may be found in the RECONSTRUCTION
      Topic Collection. 
PRESS 1938-42
      TC60 3 boxes
      This collection relates to newspaper circulation and advertising, press
      freedom and content. Documents include reports, analysis and representative
      cuttings and extracts. Related information may be found in the NEWSPAPER
      READING HABITS Topic Collection. 
PROPAGANDA
          AND MORALE 1939-44 (available on microfilm)
      TC43 5 boxes
      Records of wartime work, much of it carried out on behalf of the Ministry
      of Information, on the public effects of government information. As well
      as an assessment of individual campaigns this collection contains analyses
      of general morale and public opinion during the course of the last war.
      A large amount of related material exists in File Reports, Directive Replies
      and Diaries, as well as Topic Collections such as AIR RAIDS, EVACUATION,
      INDUSTRY, LONDON SURVEY, TOWN AND DISTRICT SURVEY, 
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
          AND SOCIAL SERVICES IN WARTIME 1941-42 (available on microfilm)
      TC44 1 box
      This material derives from a survey of public administration carried out
      in 1942 on behalf of Eric Biddle of the Public Administration Clearing
      House, Chicago, USA. A number of British administrative bodies were questioned
      on aspects of their wartime function and experience. Their responses are
      included with copies of the survey document in various stages of completeness. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R
        RADIO LISTENING 1939-44
        TC74 4 boxes
        This collection contains material on radio and broadcasting. Wartime
        material includes scripts, reports, observations and the 1940 M-O Programme
        Surveys.
        Post-war material consists of responses to a special directive on radio
        listening, 1947-48, and miscellaneous material pertaining to both radio
        and television. One box in the collection is devoted to Tom Harrisson's
        wartime public broadcasts and reviews. 
RADIO REDIFFUSION SURVEYS 1949 AND 1955
      TC45 2 boxes
      Two privately-commissioned surveys of listening habits and opinions on
      broadcast material, both carried out in the Plymouth and Nottingham areas.
      The second survey refers to television viewing mainly with reference to
      the sponsor company itself. 
READING HABITS 1937-47
      TC20 14 boxes
      This Topic Collection consists primarily of material associated with the
      buying and reading of books, and the use of bookshops and libraries. Material
      includes a series of Library Surveys (1939-40, 1942, 1943, 1946-47) the
      Penguin Books Survey (1946-47), and a small file of ephemera from political
      publishers. This collection overlaps thematically with NEWSPAPER READING. 
RECONSTRUCTION
          1941-43 (available on microfilm)
      TC2 3 boxes
      A collection of papers representing public views and aspirations concerning
      future society and the measures proposed by various planning agencies to
      match them. The collection includes data from the M-O Reconstruction Surveys
      of 1941 and 1942, and questionnaire and Directive replies on future hopes
      and expectations. The material is extensive in scope and includes employment,
      politics, urban development and housing. Related material exists in the
      POST WAR HOPES collection. 
RELIGION 1937-50
      TC47 14 boxes
      This collection contains pre-war material relating to church services ,
      activities and architecture; reports on the early effects of the war on
      church attendance and religious attitudes; reports and surveys on astrology,
      spiritualism and superstition 1940-48; letters and ephemera relating to
      religion in the forces 1941-50; reports on the Salvation Army 1942 and
      1946; material on church attendance and activities 1948-49; and a survey
      on education and religion 1948. See also ASTROLOGY . 
ROAD SAFETY 1946-55
      TC71 1 box
      This box contains material relating to road safety campaigns: correspondence,
      graphs, printed material and responses to the 'Limping Boy' poster 1954. 
ROYALTY 1942-64
      TC69 17 boxes
      This group of boxes mostly comprises material relating to the Coronation
      of 1953 (15 boxes) including observations and surveys in London and a collection
      of one day diaries kept by members of the volunteer panel for Coronation
      Day. Printed material and memorabilia are also included.
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S
        SCIENCE 1938-41
        TC34 1 box
        Material assigned to this small collection consists largely of correspondence,
        manuscripts and notes exploring the changing status of science and scientists
        in the early stages of the war. 
SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR 1939-50
      TC12 16 boxes
      Most of this material derives from M-O's Sex Survey, 1949, including a
      substantial number of completed and extensive questionnaires on sexual
      attitudes and behaviour. Additional literature covers birth control, proprietary
      manufactures, "lonely hearts" organisations and sexual roles
      and relationships. 
SHOPPING 1939-63  (available
      on microfilm)
      TC4 7 boxes
      The M-O Shops Surveys of 1942 and more specialised surveys, such as Shoe
      Shops (1941) and Hats (1948) form the basis of a collection documenting
      general shopping patterns, with particular reference to rationing and shortage.
      Appended to the main body of the collection is 1963 material for a proposed
      book. Related material on shopping habits (1940-42) is included in FILMS
      as part of the research into the MOI film "Rush Hour"
SMOKING HABITS 1937-65
      TC63 9 boxes
      This collection consists primarily of material relating to smoking habits,
      including the rationing of cigarettes, their effects on health and relevant
      ephemera. Material relates to the M-O surveys of 1941, 1943, 1949 and 1957,
      into various aspects of cigarette and pipe smoking. Later material is mainly
      concerned with brand preference. 
SPORT 1939-47 (available
      on microfilm)
      TC82 2 boxes
      Effects of the war on sporting events: reports, small surveys and the response
      to a national poll carried out by the Sunday Pictorial. Contains various
      notes and reports on individual sports including programmes, tickets, articles
      and interviews. 
SQUATTING 1946
      TC48: Shared box
      Material consisting mainly of reports on post-war squatting in disused
      military camps. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T
TOWN AND DISTRICT SURVEY 1938-49
      TC66 24 boxes
      A collection of local surveys carried out over a period of eleven years.
      The amount of material on each area varies as does survey content mainly
      due to the relatively long period involved. Much material overlaps with
      other collections especially those concerning AIR RAIDS and MORALE. Substantial
      time-series data exist for some of those areas studied, which include rural
      locations as well as conurbations. 
TRANSPORT 1937-43 AND 1963
      TC70 5 boxes
      Material in this collection consists of miscellaneous reports and observations
      on public and private transport, and related printed material and ephemera.
      In 1939 M-O collected and analysed over one thousand questionnaires, mainly
      from the South, on public awareness of the "Square Deal" transport
      campaign to enable more effective competition from the railways. In the
      same year two surveys were carried out at London stations to find effective
      posters to emphasise the importance of freight traffic. The 1963 material
      comprises approximately fifty questionnaire replies on transport use in
      Durham and Northumberland. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U/V
VICTORY CELEBRATIONS 1945-46
TC49 2 boxes
Consisting of diary extracts, reports, interview responses and other relevant printed material, this collection is a record of reactions to the end of war over the periods leading up to and including VE Day (8 May 1945) and VJ Day (15 August 1945). Included is a review of the planned Victory Day, 8 June 1946, in the form of directive responses, questionnaires and reports.
VOTING ATTITUDES 1944
      TC83 1 box
      A survey of voting attitudes conducted in Eastbourne and Harwich in 1944,
      the latter on behalf of the Common Wealth Party. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
W/X
        WALL CHALKINGS 1939-43 (available
        on microfilm)
        TC41 Shared Box
        This file contains collections of chalk markings and graffiti from London,
        Glasgow and Hastings, press-cuttings and material relating to litter
        trails. 
WOMEN IN
          WARTIME 1939-45 (available on microfilm)
      TC32 4 boxes
      Much of the material in this collection, an investigation of wartime employment
      for women, results from the ATS Survey of 1941. There are detailed, inside
      reports on all aspects of WAAF life. A collection of letters from women
      munitions workers is included however, together with material concerning
      employment in civil areas, and information on women's organisations. This
      material is related to women's attitudes to war work and omits references
      to other areas of their lives, for which relevant Topic Collections should
      be consulted: EVACUATION, HEALTH, INDUSTRY, PERSONAL APPEARANCE, SEXUAL
      BEHAVIOUR, SHOPPING. 
WORK: UNEMPLOYMENT,
          REGISTRATION AND DEMOBILISATION 1939-46 (available on microfilm)
      TC27 3 boxes
      This collection contains material on unemployment in the pre-war period,
      the effects of war on employment, and post war demobilisation. An M-O survey
      commissioned by Osram Ltd in 1943 and the Demobilisation Survey of the
      same year document attitudes to demobilisation. Included are notes and
      reports on conscription and registration. There is considerable overlap
      between this collection and others, especially INDUSTRY, FORCES, WOMEN
      IN WARTIME and CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION. 
WORLD OUTLOOK 1945-50
      TC50 4 boxes
      Material describing opinions of the post war world. The collection includes
      replies to questionnaires on the perceived prospect of future war, causes
      of and ways of avoiding war. This collection complements the RECONSTRUCTION
      and PEACE AND THE PUBLIC SURVEY collections. 
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Y/Z
        YOUTH 1937-43 (available
        on microfilm)
        TC51 3 boxes
        Material related to the social and cultural activities of young people,
        divided thematically into three parts. Part one concerns observations
        and ephemera on youth activities and organisations in the period 1937-40.
        Material
        resulting from the M-O Youth Survey in 1941 forms the second part of
        the collection, while the last part is devoted to a study of youth clubs,
        and
        later questionnaires. The Youth Survey was carried out in the Paddington
        and Bermondsey areas of London and included questions on employment and
        leisure activities. 
    


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