The 1980s are often presented historically as a decade of polar opposites and social stratification. This collection seeks to address that by presenting first-hand accounts of life throughout the decade from a variety of contributors.
'Observing the 1980s' includes written material and audio interviews with British people from across the social classes, as they reacted to events and general living conditions during the decade.
The project features the writing of 23 anonymous Mass Observation participants from the 1980s - the Mass Observation project provides a structured way for ordinary people to write about their lives and contribute to historical archives and social research.
26 audio interviews from the British Library's Oral History Collection also feature, enabling those interested in the decade to gain relevant access to the British Library's vast sound archive.
Documents from the University of Sussex's open access archive complete the collection by offering access to reports, newspaper cuttings, public information leaflets and government documents that relate to key themes and events of the decade.