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Search PHM's collection

From the Levellers to the suffragettes, from Peterloo to Brexit, PHM’s collection spans four centuries of the history of working people and the development of democracy in Britain.

Delve into PHM’s collection online

These pages allow you to access a wide range of material, combining digitised images with explanatory text.  Not all objects in this database currently have an associated image, but we continue to add entries and images on an ongoing basis.  This work is supported by the John Ellerman Foundation.

This search is for museum collections only.  Visit the archive pages to find out more about the archive collections or contact archive@phm.org.uk.




FAQs to help with your search:

What is the difference between the object collection and archive collection?

The object collection is made up of two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) items. These include objects owned by political figures, placards from protests and strikes, posters, artworks, banners, and much more.

The archive collection consists of documents that were created or used by individuals or organisations that provide evidence of their activities. Often these are textual materials, such as correspondence, reports or minutes of meetings, but they can also be photographs, plans, maps and similar items.

What collections/items are commonly searched for?

  • Labour Party poster collection
  • General poster collection
  • Banners

Are there any copyright conditions?

The images and text published within this collections database are for private use only and not for copying, reproduction or publication. This collections database includes low resolution images only. The copyright for these digital images is People's History Museum. Copyright of the original artwork, photograph or product may be held by the artist, maker, photographer or agent. By choosing to view the collections via this database you have accepted these conditions.

If you believe that an image found on PHM's website infringes yours or someone else's intellectual property rights please see our Take Down Policy.

Looking to purchase or reproduce an image?

Contact collections@phm.org.uk.

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