The London Metropolitan Archives team will introduce you to some of the wonderful collections which tell the amazing stories of women and power in the capital. You will discover women campaigners, factory workers, reformers, politicians, apprentices, artists and engineers going back through the centuries.

There are activities for all ages which run throughout the day. There are also timed talks, tours and presentations.

You can book in for general admission and go for the big experience. If you are interested in the talk and exhibition tours you can book for those specific activities.

UPDATE: Two more guided tours of the exhibition ‘Picturing Forgotten London’ have been added.

Programme (scroll to the end)

10:30 – 12:30 AND 13:30 – 15:30

Document display: Come along and meet the LMA team. They will introduce you to some of LMA’s wonderful documents that tell the amazing stories of women and power in the capital. Through their stories you will meet campaigners, factory workers, reformers, politicians, apprentices, artists and engineers going back through the centuries. Join in the Discovery Quiz.

Conservation: Throughout the day there will be demonstrations of conservation techniques, including
making repairs and stitching books. The team will also reveal the importance of women’s contribution to bookbinding. Come along and try your hand!

Exhibition: ‘Picturing Forgotten London’ is full of exciting material from the archives. Take a look around and see what you can discover. There are short curatorial tours. These are proving popular and if you can’t get on to a set tour curatorial staff will be on hand to answer questions.

Films and images: LMA holds a lot of films which tell the story of London and Londoners. Film material relating to women’s lives will be running throughout the day in our Mediatheque space. Explore images on the Collage website

Creative crafts: Women, Power and the Future. If you have been inspired by the stories you have heard and the things you have seen come along and create a vision of the future. Collage, drawing, puppet-making and writing can be used to make your vision of the future. Make a self-portrait, write a letter to your future -self, create an image showing the things women can aspire to and take your photo with one of our powerful women.

Signs of the times: Signwriting workshop with Vg Lee and Mary Vassallo. Val and Mary formed a company in the 1980s and did signwriting around London. They have recently deposited their archive at LMA. Find out about their story and create your own sign.

Stalls: These will be linked to the theme of Women and Power. Contributors include the Salvation Army, KENRIC Lesbian social group / campaigners, The Baring Archive (ING), The Huguenots of Spitalfields, BT Archives, The Vagina Museum, Gunnersbury Museum, Royal College of Nursing, Retired Caribbean Nurses, WAPPY (young peoples creative and cultural group), Purple Tie Promotions, Young Roots (History of Black Women’s Hair project) and the Marx Memorial Library.

Discover LMA: Come and chat to staff at our Information Desk and out more about the fascinating stories within our archives.

Timed sessions:

• 10:40-11:00 – Curator guided tour of the exhibition ‘Picturing Forgotten London’
• 11:00-11:30 – Talk: Discovering Suffragettes in LMA’s Collections
• 11:30-12:00 – Talk: Jessica Huntley: A Radical Life
• 11:40-12:00 – Curator guided tour of the exhibition ‘Picturing Forgotten London’
• 12:00-12:30 – Talk: Joy Conway. A Woman of Influence in the United Synagogue
• 12:30-13:30 – Behind the Scenes Tours. A chance to find out what goes on in the archive
• 13:45-14:30 – Talk: Women MPs. The History of Parliament present their recent work, including oral histories.
• 14:30-14:50 – Curator guided tour of the exhibition ‘Picturing Forgotten London’
• 14:30-15:00 – Talk: Women and the London County Council
• 15:10-15:30 – Curator guided tour of the exhibition ‘Picturing Forgotten London’