British Empire and Commonwealth Collection @BECCollection
A unique resource of objects, artworks, photographs, films, papers and sound. We are working hard to make this collection available for people worldwide. bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-archiv… Bristol Joined August 2022-
Tweets148
-
Followers1K
-
Following2K
-
Likes132
We are short staffed right now so have temporarily put our archives enquiry service on hold. We will let you know when we are back up and running! In the meantime, our enquiry service for the objects will continue - contact us at ow.ly/aSiC50U5VhF
We’re excited to announce our new exhibition, "Life in the Caribbean". Exploring the rich history of the British Caribbean, delving into the experiences of colonizers and the vibrant intersections of culture, labour, and resistance. #BlackHistoryMonth #BECC #BristolArchives
Earlier this month we made a visit to the Kenyan High Commission @KenyaMissionUK in London. Our archivist @ConsulArchivist met with staff to return archives from Shimo-La-Tewa Prison to Kenya. The records are now at their permanent home in the Kenya National Archives.
As part of @heritageopenday @bristolarchives on the weekend we had a display of items from the 1924 Empire Exhibition. This year marks the the centenary of the event which took place at a purpose-built stadium at Wembley (later Wembley Stadium) and attracted 27million visitors.
You can now listen to over 100 audio recordings on our online catalogue. Recorded in the 1990s, these oral history interviews are with people who travelled and worked in many parts of the former empire. ow.ly/PYHW50SfjZK
On Tuesday we welcomed a group of photography students from @westoncollege. Among the items they viewed were images taken by the Moreys on the Gilbert & Ellice Islands (now Kiribati and Tuvala): ow.ly/12LC50QwK9Q
Last week we went with colleagues from @GlynnVivian @BristolUni & artist David Alesworth for a visit/research trip to @AmgueddfaCymru National Collections Centre, Nantgarw. We looked at objects related to coal mining, miners' art and one of the biggest lumps of coal in Wales!
The Empire Exhibition took place in Wembley 1924-1925. With Britain's imperial power waning (especially since WWI) it was a propaganda opportunity to whip up support for empire in the British public's mind. We hold many souvenirs/memorabilia from the event.
Yesterday we welcomed students from @BristolUni who are undertaking a unit in 'Art and Empire' as part of their History of Art degree. We looked at archives, artworks and objects, which helped to provide examples of how empire has been represented and captured in visual form.
Elizabeth Huxley was, amongst many other talents, a writer, environmentalist, and government advisor on African affairs. We hold many of her archives and recently her photos have been used in a blog about her student days at Reading. Have a read here blogs.reading.ac.uk/tales-from-the…
In a speech during a visit to Kenya last week, King Charles acknowledged the brutal violence of British colonial rule in the country. From the archives, Kenyan Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta with Prince Philip at a ceremony in 1963 to mark Independence (ref: 2002/133/1/1/44)
You'll remember Sarah Waiswa's images at Bristol Photo Festival 2021 where she juxtaposed contemporary portraits of African people alongside manipulated portraits from BECC to challenge colonialism, power, identity. Her new exhibition in Nairobi now open ow.ly/GAlf50Q3qZS
Our October newsletter is out now! Catch up with the news from the department... mailchi.mp/6092b9e2ee38/c…
We are pleased to announce that the new exhibition 'Concealed/Reveal: Disabled, D/deaf and neurodivergent artists driving creativity' has opened @bristolmuseum and features three works from BECC by the artist Anthony Jadunath (1945–2009). ow.ly/kMuJ50PRRqK
This work is by Lahore-based artist Risham Syed (c.1996). We are thrilled that she recently verified this piece for us and provided some finer details, including that the man in the photo is actually her grandfather, who worked for the British civil service.
Welcoming Ellie Pridgeon to the BECC team as Senior Archivist (job-share)!! She brings a wide range of experience from her varied background as @ConsulArchivist #archives
Through various poster campaigns, the Empire Marketing Board encouraged British people to buy goods produced within the empire. This work by Edward McKnight Kauffer (c.1927) depicts a highly idealised view of a plantation in Africa in an attempt to sell more bananas.
We have digitised and added more historical images of Nigeria to our online catalogue, dating from the 1920s. See the mud buildings of Kano City with their distinctive decoration: ow.ly/5rVf50PwuFm
Read about the movements and thoughts of Colonel Bentley during WW1, from his letters to his wife Nora. Bentley took part in the battle of Krithia at Gallipoli, June 1915: ow.ly/KuWv50P8rmm

Bristol Museum & Art ... @bristolmuseum
33K Followers 1K Following Bristol Museum & Art Gallery houses the city’s world class collections, from dinosaurs and diamonds to magnificent fine art and Egyptian mummies.
Richard @richkbristol
10K Followers 3K Following History teacher. @histassoc fellow & trustee. Deputy head. Member of the Tortured Poets Department.
Duncan Money @mininghistory
7K Followers 784 Following Consulting historian and researcher. I write about mining, migration and Southern Africa. More info here: https://t.co/q4vQqMh8RR Email: [email protected]
Dr Misha Ewen @mishaewen
3K Followers 2K Following No longer here - please find me @mishaewen12 on other socials or email me at the University of Sussex
Dr Mark Purcell @CamLibResearch
9K Followers 6K Following Director, Research & Collections, Cambridge University Library. Bye-Fellow, Pembroke College. Proctor. AIL Panel. Country House Library (2017). Private views.
Gail Boyle @Boyle123G
1K Followers 751 Following Former @Bristolmuseum archaeologist FMA FSA. Chair: @archaeologyUK Pucklechurch PC, ALCA, BGAS, Treasure Valuation Committee member, Granny & @Bristolbears fan
Dr Isabella Rosner @IsabellaRosner
14K Followers 1K Following Textile Historian🪡 Curator @royalneedlework | Research Consultant @witney_antiques | BBC/AHRC New Gen Thinker 2023 | host @sewwhatpodcast | she/her, views own
Bristol Archives @bristolarchives
6K Followers 1K Following We collect & preserve Bristol's archives (and @BECCollection) for current & future generations. See website for up-to-date information & opening times.
Barnaby Phillips @BarnabyPhillips
7K Followers 1K Following Books; 'Loot-Britain & Benin Bronzes' 'Another Man's War'. Elephant conservation @EPIAfrica. Previously Maputo Luanda Lagos Jo'burg Athens. BBC, Al Jaz. Arsenal
@MOfP @MOfP2021
4K Followers 2K Following Archive for MOfP. A vision you can’t see, for a future you can’t believe. Doing more, with less, more often, with greater enthusiasm.
Blaise Museum @BlaiseMuseum
2K Followers 448 Following 18th century mansion set in beautiful parkland. Home to wonderful objects that show how Bristol people used to live. *Note this account is no longer active*
Dr Charlotte Mathieso... @cemathieson
6K Followers 5K Following Senior Lecturer in 19th Century English Literature @SurreySLL; now on Bluesky (CEMathieson) and instagram (Dr_Charlotte_Mathieson)
nicole cochrane @tinyhistorian
4K Followers 2K Following Assistant Curator of British Romantic art. The internet’s Napoleonic Girlfriend
Sarah Scaturro @saruzza
3K Followers 1K Following chief conservator / curator • fashion • textiles • @[email protected]
DARYL WALLACE @DarylRWallace
2K Followers 4K Following
The Venerable Bede @VenerableBede_
0 Followers 343 Following
Michelleson @Michelleso9877
27 Followers 413 Following
Calvin t rason Hutchi... @RasonCalvin
3 Followers 24 Following
Ilomap @Ilomap4477
7 Followers 1K Following
Henry @Henry9546537599
0 Followers 20 Following
FlowerFollower @follower19981
381 Followers 58 Following Just a woman reading tweets with a hot drink 😊 #Coffee
Trev Pape @trev336
3K Followers 5K Following Proud to be British, & of our history with all its flaws. Best country in the world. Love music, Guitar, Jazz, Blues, Rock. History of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Anna Robinson @AnnaRobinson84
718 Followers 2K Following Single mum | Work in Parliament | Former local government and social housing professional | Views my own
Tuoota @Tuoota7909
38 Followers 2K Following
Clay O @ranchbossclay
2K Followers 4K Following Florida Patriot! We ranch for a livin. Together we take our country & power back
Xavier @Xavier118238644
0 Followers 1K Following
Ycukarb @Ycukarb28072
18 Followers 1K Following
Ygotoo @Ygotoo8814
16 Followers 818 Following
Hauba @Hauba6066
44 Followers 1K Following
Tasiu Ibrahim @TasiuIb65950942
0 Followers 88 Following
casset @casset113707
33 Followers 3K Following
Nlna @Shoseelbmd2YEc
26 Followers 2K Following Because I like it, it is difficult to welcome it https://t.co/1MA6587OSS
Jiri Georgiev @GeorgiPrag
16 Followers 206 Following
Insightful Lion @InsightfulLion
0 Followers 338 Following
Hannah Orbell @hannahorbell
152 Followers 814 Following Somewhat obsessed with the 1940s & WW2. Passionate about history. Vintage cycle enthusiast. Digs for victory! Loves wildlife. MA History. March Town Councillor.
Jeff Heller @jsheller28
2 Followers 646 Following
𝙰𝚕𝚑𝚎𝚛�... @Olorunyommy
3K Followers 4K Following Grace. Love. Empathy. Jesus. “Nerves of Steel 🦾! Little by little, then all of a sudden”. I.MMXXIII 🕊️
Max @sunnyreef
35 Followers 251 Following
8 (Eight) Antiques an... @CarlMur73571355
4K Followers 7K Following Thank You for the Reposts and Likes. Much Appreciated 🏴 🏴🏴Check Out my Store https://t.co/o7o2fnzDp2
Lord Parddington. @Parddington90
85 Followers 2K Following loves Italy's natural beauty, father of 2, more than 15 years in construction and structural designing.
Laura Potts @thelauratheory_
852 Followers 1K Following Poet. Book collector and cat enthusiast. Reading, probably.
Greg Nwoko @nwoko_greg62705
3K Followers 3K Following Am a historian and lover of Nigeria. Pro Unitate. Auto dealer.
Thesma @Thesma1897019
53 Followers 482 Following Nice to meet you. My hobbies are reading, food and sports. I like cats😘 I like to meet new friends while traveling🎉🎉🎉
Sidney @all_the_milk
233 Followers 1K Following
Jay @jaylikesbirds.bs... @Jay_likesbirds
341 Followers 931 Following Books, birds, exploring, gigs 📚🦜🗺️ Online EFL tutor & ESOL teacher 🌍
Sairsirt @SairsirtwObaug
14 Followers 2K Following
Toyddaws @ToyddawsIIuex
23 Followers 1K Following
Over the Global Count... @OTglobalcounter
63 Followers 100 Following AHRC project 'Chemists to the Nation, Pharmacy to the World': Exploring the Global Dimensions of British Healthcare and Beauty with Boots The Chemists, 1919-80
onrust1614 @onrust1614
7 Followers 582 Following
Hmou @B__N__F
2 Followers 36 Following
blackmountainmediatv @blackmountainm6
155 Followers 483 Following Exposing a falling empire… Babylon aka Rome is falling down. GAS talk & works. Also exposing black skinned, white masked individuals.
Uther Pendragon🇬�... @highbritishking
3 Followers 28 Following Yo soy Uther Pendragon, rey británico indomable. Mis hijos forjaron el mayor y más glorioso imperio de todos los tiempos, y mi legado arde en la historia.
Peter Mitchell @_bezpilotnik
2K Followers 2K Following 'Imperial Nostalgia: How the British Conquered Themselves' (MUP, 2021) | Critical Wor Tree Studies | writing various places
Anthony A @Adeandade007
33 Followers 781 Following
k.c.rudolph @drkcrudolph
69 Followers 153 Following Sr Lecturer in Classics and Philosophy @kentiquity. Advocate for rights and responsibilities.
The Ephemera Society @TheEphemerist
888 Followers 324 Following The Ephemera Society is a non-profit body devoted to the collection, conservation, study and educational uses of handwritten and printed ephemera.
Luca Lorenzi @LucaLor65804028
80 Followers 221 Following
The National Archives @UkNatArchives
169K Followers 723 Following Official archive of the UK government. Discover our online collections, research guides and educational resources, spanning 1000 years of history.
Bristol Museum & Art ... @bristolmuseum
33K Followers 1K Following Bristol Museum & Art Gallery houses the city’s world class collections, from dinosaurs and diamonds to magnificent fine art and Egyptian mummies.
V&A @V_and_A
1.3M Followers 2K Following The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity.
Sathnam Sanghera @Sathnam
113K Followers 3K Following Sunday Times bestselling author. Join me on my #Empireworld tour in 2025. Pre-order my book on George Michael - Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, out in 2026.
Marianna Dudley @DudleyMarianna
3K Followers 2K Following Senior Lecturer in Environmental Humanities. My book ‘Electric Wind: An Energy History of Britain’ is available for preorder at the link.
Richard @richkbristol
10K Followers 3K Following History teacher. @histassoc fellow & trustee. Deputy head. Member of the Tortured Poets Department.
Hannah Cusworth- is a... @hannahcusworth
6K Followers 2K Following Historian doing a PhD with @EnglishHeritage looking at mahogany, 18th century Atlantic world & Blackness | writing labels @chelsphysicgdn | Views my own
Dr Misha Ewen @mishaewen
3K Followers 2K Following No longer here - please find me @mishaewen12 on other socials or email me at the University of Sussex
British Library @britishlibrary
1.8M Followers 1K Following We’re the UK’s national library, working to restore our services following a cyber-attack. Need help? Get in touch at [email protected]
Robert Saunders @redhistorian
43K Followers 1K Following Author of "Yes to Europe! The 1975 Referendum & Seventies Britain". "A jaw-dislocating page turner"(Andrew Marr). Co-director @MileEndInst, Reader @QMHistory
Dr Mark Purcell @CamLibResearch
9K Followers 6K Following Director, Research & Collections, Cambridge University Library. Bye-Fellow, Pembroke College. Proctor. AIL Panel. Country House Library (2017). Private views.
Dr Sally Holloway @sally_holloway
8K Followers 2K Following Historian of emotions, gender, visual & material culture, researching ❤️ & 💔. AHRC Research, Development & Engagement Fellow. Currently on maternity leave
David Olusoga @DavidOlusoga
182K Followers 2K Following British-Nigerian Historian - BAFTA Winning Producer/Presenter - Best Selling Author - AGENT [email protected]
William Dalrymple @DalrympleWill
1.3M Followers 4K Following Scottish historian & art historian; @EmpirePodUK podcaster & Jaipur Lit Fest co-director. Visiting Fellow at All Souls, Oxford. Writes the occasional book.
Gail Boyle @Boyle123G
1K Followers 751 Following Former @Bristolmuseum archaeologist FMA FSA. Chair: @archaeologyUK Pucklechurch PC, ALCA, BGAS, Treasure Valuation Committee member, Granny & @Bristolbears fan
Royal Historical Soci... @RoyalHistSoc
46K Followers 462 Following The Royal Historical Society supports history and historians. From 21 Feb 2025 we have ceased posting on X and moved wholly to BlueSky. Please join us there.
Dr Freya Gowrley @Freya_Gowrley
13K Followers 7K Following Lecturer @UoBrisArtHist/@libarts_bristol | Writing on Houses, Collage + Bodies | Fragmentary Forms: A New History of Collage, out 2024 w @PrincetonUPress.
Dion Georgiou 🇨�... @DrDionGeorgiou
4K Followers 5K Following Pushing through, bending spoons, keeping flowers in full bloom. Contemporary historian. Dad, Londoner, Cypriot. Writes The Academic Bubble newsletter. He/him.
Dr Isabella Rosner @IsabellaRosner
14K Followers 1K Following Textile Historian🪡 Curator @royalneedlework | Research Consultant @witney_antiques | BBC/AHRC New Gen Thinker 2023 | host @sewwhatpodcast | she/her, views own
Marsh's Library @MarshsLibrary
21K Followers 4K Following Beautiful library of the early Enlightenment in central Dublin. Opened in 1707; still welcoming visitors, tourists and scholars. Registered Charity RCN 20000752
Daniel McKay @danieljtmckay
1K Followers 2K Following Historian & 🇦🇺 Antipodean. Just finished a History PhD @peterhouse_cam. Emma Experience Director & Bye-Fellow @emmacambridge Also nonsensemonger @whimwondery
South Asian Britain @RemakingBritain
633 Followers 294 Following Twitter account for @UoBArtsMatter, @QMULSED, @BritishLibrary @ahrcpress project Remaking Britain: South Asian Connections and Networks, 1830s to the present
Emma McKenna @EmmaMc2112
140 Followers 229 Following Subject Leader for History @KingsGrantham HATF CTHist NPQLT HA SLDP
NDHums ndhumanities.b... @NdHumanities
421 Followers 338 Following NDHums no longer uses Twitter/X. Find us at https://t.co/HH87TY2KeW!
Peter Brathwaite @PeterBrathwaite
6K Followers 2K Following British Baritone/Opera/Advocate of suppressed voices/@BBCRadio3 Broadcaster/Hon DMus/#RediscoveringBlackPortraiture OUT NOW @GettyPubs https://t.co/589f1pboMT
Weird Bristol @WeirdBristol
22K Followers 741 Following Your guide to the hidden history of Bristol. WEIRD BRISTOL: TRUE CRIME is here: https://t.co/zB5fvXfVXj
BodleianConservation @BodCons
4K Followers 473 Following Activities from the Conservation & Collection Care team at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford. Caring for our collections since 1602. #BodCons
Fiona McLees ACR @mclees_fiona
2K Followers 2K Following Senior Paper Conservator @amgueddfacymru. Artists’ materials, studios, relics. St Andrews & UAL alumni. Opinions my own. Also on Bluesky.
Abigail Bainbridge AC... @BainbridgeCons
1K Followers 425 Following Director of Bainbridge Conservation. Editor of Conservation of Books. Mother of twins. Registered mudlark. She/her.
Capt.Paradise @TheBigRBigBand
165 Followers 261 Following Bristol's best dressed drummer & leader of the swinging Big R Big Band. Drummer & gigolo for Narco Lounge Combo. Old & swing era drum styles are my thing.
Codex Conservation @Codex29123
963 Followers 805 Following Book and Archives Conservation Services, offering treatment and advice for manuscripts, parchment and printed materials for their long term preservation.
boomsatsuma @boomsatsuma
2K Followers 2K Following Want a career in the creative industries? It starts with BOOM. Unique Creative College Diplomas, University Courses in Bristol 🍊
Centre for Victorian ... @CentreVictorian
918 Followers 1K Following The UK's oldest Centre for Victorian Studies based @uniofleicester. 🔗 https://t.co/loehb08025
Emma Copestake @em_copestake
444 Followers 842 Following Recently finished my PhD @LivUniHistory | Humour, emotions and wellbeing on the docks in Liverpool, c.1960s-1990s | @NWC_DTP and @ihr_history | she/her
Anaïs Makhzoum @MakhzoumAnais
28 Followers 55 Following Doctorante en civilisation britannique / PhD candidate @upjv British history and cultural politics, museums, cultural diplomacy (Empire/Commonwealth) she/her
Shreya Gupta @Shreyagupta1280
961 Followers 1K Following @ahrcpress @CDPConnect PhD @UniofExeter @AshmoleanMuseum | Decolonizing Collections | Uncovering role of Indians in coin collecting in Colonial India | ex @SOAS
Women's Day @womensday
136K Followers 1K Following INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (March 8) is an important day to celebrate women's social, economic, cultural & political achievements + call for gender equality
Conservation @ARA_PCG
709 Followers 544 Following @ARAUK_IE's Section for Preservation & Conservation
Prof Andrekos Varnava... @AndrekosVarnava
3K Followers 3K Following Aus-Cypriot historian @Flinders; #British empire; #Cyprus hist & politics; Armenian hist; migration hist; poet; Editor-in-Chief @JICHist @YusufCatStevens fan
Direct Local Bristol @Directlocalmag
359 Followers 2K Following Direct Local is Bristol’s choice for alternative local news, what’s on in Bristol and business news. #folllowers #Bristol
David Kendall @manwithbooks
2K Followers 768 Following https://t.co/Plb2msmAxV #FathersInside #MakingItUp #paperchains #10x10 (100 word stories) Patron of reading HMP Erlestoke. Instagram @davidkendall71
Perivoli Africa Resea... @PerivoliARC
1K Followers 1K Following Est. in Jan 2020 @BristolUni to champion transformation in research & partnerships to advance #Africa’s achievement of its own aspirations. #PerivoliFoundation
Centre for the Study ... @EthnicityCentre
330 Followers 209 Following The Centre recognises the importance of ethnicity and citizenship to the study of contemporary societies and polities, and to prospects for social justice
Bristol Parks @bristolparks
4K Followers 226 Following Bristol City Council’s official parks feed. Monitored in normal office hours Mon-Fri. Please report issues on our webform: https://t.co/7m2sMdiPEu…
Underfall Yard @underfallyard
2K Followers 859 Following A working boatyard in Bristol that welcomes visitors. Operated by Underfall Yard Trust.
Dr Ana-Maria Herman, @herman_anamaria
1K Followers 1K Following Research digital + museums/archives + curation + arts and gender + STS
Fair Museum Jobs @fair_jobs
16K Followers 3K Following Highlighting good and bad practice in UK museum jobs and recruitment! email: [email protected]
Lydia Stirling ACR @stirling_lydia
281 Followers 191 Following Accredited archive conservator, amiture cook and gardener. Post about my work at Glamorgan Archives and conservation.
Culture24 @Culture24
5K Followers 2K Following Culture24 has now merged with The Audience Agency (@audienceagents). Find the latest information about our work through the link below.
School of Museum Stud... @LeicsMusStud
9K Followers 1K Following Official musings of Museum Studies staff & students at the University of Leicester. We are also on Instagram @uolmuseumstudies
Emily Miller 🧡 @E_JMiller
1K Followers 2K Following Partnerships Director @MigrationUK, @ChurchillFship Migration fellow, trustee of @MigratefulUK, supporter of @RefugeeTales. Former @TeachFirst
@AthensFurby @AthensFurby
132 Followers 1K Following
Royal Air Force @RoyalAirForce
335K Followers 888 Following The world's first independent Air Force. Air and Space Power to Protect our Nation.
Fran Coles @conservatorfran
487 Followers 154 Following Conservation & Documentation Manager for Bristol Culture. Lover of old stuff. Lapsed sci-fi geek, reluctant gardener, baker of birthday cakes. Views my own.
TeamKenya @OlympicsKe
31K Followers 699 Following The Official Handle of The Kenyan Olympic Team || National Olympic Committee of Kenya #TeamKenya 🇰🇪
Humap: the storytelli... @humap_me_
1K Followers 3K Following 🧑🗺️ Bring your collections & data to life with geospatial storytelling! https://t.co/8wqfqLNzAy
Weston College @westoncollege
9K Followers 3K Following One of the fastest growing further education colleges in the UK, winner of the 2015 TES College of the Year and FE Provider of the Year awards.
[networc] Transnation... @networcNE
121 Followers 85 Following Network for transnational and global history in the North East of England.
History at Newcastle @historyNCL
4K Followers 4K Following The latest from the historians at Newcastle University.
Yvonne Okwara @YvonneOkwara
559K Followers 2K Following Bloomberg ALI Media Fellow/ Business Editor, Citizen TV /#TheExplainer/#MyTake/ GRI Certified Sustainability Professional /[email protected]/
Athletics Kenya @athletics_kenya
27K Followers 3K Following AK is the governing body for the sport of athletics (track and field, marathon, road races and cross countries) in Kenya. Email: [email protected]
Emma Wallhead @EmmaWallhead
93 Followers 272 Following PhD student @USydHistory | Researching the history of gender and feminism in the twentieth century | She/her
ECPR SG Migration & E... @ECPR_Migration
5K Followers 1K Following Twitter account of the @ECPR Standing Group Migration and Ethnicity Convenors: @Daniela_Vintila @verena_wis @roberta_perna @sumpierrez1 @NawalShaharyar
United Nations Networ... @UNMigNetwork
12K Followers 729 Following Speaking with one voice on migration, one Tweet at a time. Coordinated by @IOMchief.
Oxford Monitor of For... @oxmofm
3K Followers 2K Following Independent journal publishing academic research and reflections on forced migration and displacement. Next deadline: June 1st.
Migration Research Hu... @migreshub
3K Followers 44 Following @IMISCOE's Migration Research Hub aims to bring research and experts on migration all under one roof.
Migration RPC @MigrationRPC
5K Followers 4K Following UKAid-funded consortium 2010-2019. Internal, regional, & international #migration in relation to poverty in Africa & Asia. Improving policy. Sharing knowledge.