New Website Explores Migration History

The last 200 years of Caribbean, Irish, Jewish and South Asian migration to
England are explored on a new interactive website, 'Moving Here',
www.movinghere.org.uk <http://www.movinghere.org.uk>, which was launched on
30 July at London's City Hall.

'Moving Here' makes over 150,000 digitised sources from 30 museums,
libraries and archives in England available online for the first time.  You
can download free scans of original documents and images such as:
        *       selected Asian and Caribbean ships' passenger lists,
including the SS Empire Windrush, searchable by name
        *       playwright Brendan Behan's correspondence to the Home
Secretary requesting permission to return to England following his IRA
conviction
        *       Internees Index: Internees at Liberty in UK - records
detailing Jewish refugees granted asylum between 1939 and 1942, searchable
by name Interviews with Caribbean RAF pilots from WW2
        *       extensive records, including correspondence from Gandhi,
charting the struggle for Indian independence
        *       rare photographs of slaves onboard a ship from 1869

You can read about the history of migration to England, get guidance on
tracing your family history, send images as e-postcards and contribute your
own stories of migration to the website. 

Trevor Phillips, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, said:
"England has a long history of immigration and I commend 'Moving Here' and
The National Archives on creating a website which recognises and celebrates
the contribution of immigrants to all sections of our society."

Sarah Tyacke, Chief Executive of The National Archives, said: "'Moving Here'
is a step forward because for the first time all this material has been
digitised so that you can see it in your living room.  Archives are moving
away from their 'dusty and musty' image by making these documents available
at the click of a mouse."

Historian Simon Schama said:
"It's a TERRIFIC idea, both moving and important."

Sam Walker, Director of the Black Cultural Archives, said: " 'Moving Here'
is another in a long list of activities which is helping to dispel the myth
which requires the absence of Black people in British history.  Black
Cultural Archives is proud to be part of this illuminating and very
necessary project."
Chandan Mahal, Diversity Manager at the Museum of London, said: "People
don't realise how much material about their communities is stored away in
museums and archives.  When I have gone into community groups and been able
to show them images of the Asian lascars in the Docks and the Asian
suffragettes on the 'Moving Here' website they get really excited".

Sarah Jilings, Curator of Collections of the Jewish Museum, London said:
"'Moving Here' is a unique online resource for Jewish people to explore
their heritage and draw parallels with the experiences of other immigrant
communities. It has brought together a wonderful array of sources from
collections across the country, many of which would otherwise be
inaccessible, to provide a detailed picture of Jewish community life."

Alison Taylor, of the Luton Museum Service, said: "Through 'Moving Here' we
gained important new information on the history of the Luton Irish
community, and the community has gained greater recognition for its
contribution to the town." 

'Moving Here' is funded by the New Opportunities Fund.  Further material
will be added to the site by the end of September.

-Ends-

Notes for Editors:
*       For press enquiries, images, or to attend the launch at 2:15pm on 30
July at London's City Hall, please contact Clea Relly or Jaclyn Boshoff at
The National Archives Press Office on 020 8392 5277 or e-mail
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

*       The National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
<http://www.nationlarchives.gov.uk> is the lead partner on "Moving Here" and
the central "Moving Here" team is based at the offices in Kew.  The National
Archives museum and research rooms are open to the public 6 days a week.  It
holds over 1000 years of documents including sources for family history
research.  The National Archives was created in April 2003 when the Public
Record Office and the Historic Manuscripts Commission came together to form
one organisation.   

        *       The Moving Here partner organisations are: Birmingham City
Archives; Black Cultural Archives; Bradford Heritage Unit; British Library;
Croydon Museum & Heritage Service;   Hackney Museum;   Haringey Museum and
Archive Service (incorporating Bruce Castle Museum);  Hull City Archives;
Imperial War Museum;  Jewish Museum, London;   Lancashire Record Office;
Leeds Museums & Galleries;   Liverpool Record Office;   London Metropolitan
Archives;   London School of Economics;   Luton Museum Service;   Manchester
Central Library;   Manchester Jewish Museum; Museum of London;   The
National Archives;   National Maritime Museum;   North West Film Archive;
Oxfordshire Museums;   Public Record Office of Northern Ireland;   Royal
Geographical Society; Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives;
Victoria & Albert Museum;   Walsall Local History Centre;   Wandsworth
Museum and Local History Service;   West Yorkshire Archive Service 

* www.EnrichUK.net is a gateway to the collection of websites like
www.movinghere.org.uk supported with National Lottery money by the New
Opportunities Fund. Their contents range across the very best in culture,
history, art, science, and social and economic development of England,
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and make a major contribution to
lifelong learning.

* The New Opportunities Fund is the biggest of the National Lottery good
cause distributors, providing Lottery funding for health, education and
environment projects across the UK, with a particular focus on improving
quality of life, particularly in disadvantaged communities. To date the New
Opportunities Fund has committed over £2 billion in funding to schemes
across the UK. The Fund supports sustainable projects that will:

*       Improve the quality of life of people throughout the UK
*       Address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society
*       Encourage community participation
*        Complement relevant local and national strategies and programmes

Funding for programmes is divided between England, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and Wales on the basis of population weighted to reflect levels of
deprivation.  

Further information about New Opportunities Fund can be accessed at
www.nof.org.uk <http://www.nof.org.uk>:  Press Office 020 7211 1888; email
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ;
Out of hours media line 07867 500572.



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