Room with vintage music posters on walls and floor; display case with music memorabilia; soft drinks in background.

A COLLECTION OF BRITISH YOUTH CULTURE

About The Archive

With an extensive archive documenting British youth culture from the post-war period to the present day, we curate exhibitions, host seminars, and produce publications that bring this rich history to life. Focusing on Mod, Rudies, and Soul Boys, our expertise lies in the movements that have shaped the music, style, and identity of generations.

A black and white photograph showcasing a wall decorated with framed black and white portraits. The images depict various people, likely musicians or artists, in different poses and settings. The frames are neatly aligned in two rows, creating a gallery-like display.

Projects

  • Flyer for Brighton Museum & Art Gallery exhibit titled "The In Crowd: Mod Fashion & Style 1958-1966" featuring a black and white photo of a group of people, with some standing and some sitting, dressed in 1960s fashion.

    Mods Exhibition

    Brighton Museum - 10 May 2025 to 4 January 2026.

    Click Here
  • A colorful promotional poster advertising a soul event titled "Soul Satisfaction" on June 8th at Déda in Derby, featuring dance, record fair, book, poster, photo exhibition, magazine, T-shirts, and a seminar. The poster includes images of record covers, magazines, and a photo of a band titled "The Impressions."

    Soul Satisfaction

    DEDA Derby - 8th June 2024

  • A collage of black and white and color photographs, magazine clippings, and text promoting the history of Tamla Motown and its cultural significance, including images of people at events and a vintage record label appearance.

    Hitsville!

    ‘The Birth Of Tamla Motown’ book.

    Click Here

Featured Items

Cover of the October 1967 issue of "Blues & Soul Monthly Music Review," featuring a close-up of a man's face in a purple hue.

Blues & Soul Magazines

Cover of R & B Scene magazine, April 1965, featuring a black-and-white photo of Screamin' Jay Hawkins holding a skull next to another person. The cover highlights artists like Chuck Berry, James Brown, and Lazy Lester, with additional content on record reviews and quizzes.

R’nB Scene Magazines

Newspaper cover with headline 'Mafia Control Tamla Motown', featuring a photo of a man in a suit and hat, and an image of Martha Reeves and The Vandellas. The text discusses claims of mafia involvement in the music industry.

Motown Memorabilia

A man standing on stage in front of an audience, speaking into a microphone. There is a large screen behind him displaying the phrase 'The 60's Old Originals' in pink text, and stage lighting in pink and blue.

Curate An Exhibition

With unseen items, one-off and exclusive artefacts pertaining to British Youth Culture, our archive materials offer a unique and in-depth view into post-war subcultures. Past collaborators include The Horse Hospital London, Brighton Museum and many more - and you could be next.
Contact us about exhibition contributions and collaborations.

Four women, dressed in black, standing on a small stage, with a woman playing a nearby piano and a curtain on the right side, in a setting with a group of seated people watching.
Book cover titled 'Groovesville USA: The Detroit Soul & R&B Index' by Keith Rylatt, featuring a black and white vintage photograph of six men, dressed in suits and bow ties, holding musical instruments including a drum, guitar, bass, and keyboard.

Work With Us

Buy Our Books

We currently have stock of our recent publications Hitsville: The birth of Tamla Motown and Groovesville and always welcome wholesale enquiries.

Book A Talk

We’ve organised and led talks across a range of topics relating to British youth culture. Whether you’re looking for someone to share stories about x or an expert with in depth knowledge of youth culture, get in touch.

Wall display of framed black and white photographs and collage papers, including newspaper clippings and vintage documents.

Publish With Us

Wanting to bring some quality to your upcoming exhibition or event? With experience in book publishing and currating we’re always interested to hear from people sharing their knowledge on the scene.

Cover of a book titled 'Hitsville! The Birth of Tamla Motown', featuring a man in sunglasses holding a drink and a cigar, with a group of people in the background.