Birmingham People's Archive are looking for Birmingham people to be interviewed for history project

BPHA, Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BS

BPHA is a volunteer run archive, created in 2021. Our fast-growing collection has many significant, unique materials about local, national, and international working-class history from the mid-19th century to recent times.

We need people who’ve worked and/or lived in the Birmingham area over the past 50 years or so, to be interviewed by trained Aston University students. Birmingham has changed so much in recent times. It’s important that the memories of people who’ve contributed so much to our great city are preserved for future generations.

Interviews will usually take place at the archive in Birmingham & Midland Institute, but other settings could be arranged if needed. They take about an hour and are recorded to ensure we capture everything told to us. Some interviews will be filmed, with consent. There are open-ended questions, and the atmosphere is relaxed. No-one will be pressed to talk about anything with which they’re uncomfortable. Three people will be present: the student interviewer, person being interviewed, and volunteer operating the recording/filming equipment. Afterwards, people interviewed are asked to sign copyright agreements (extracts can be removed, if wished). Students will then produce interview summaries and background research.

Our website Birmingham People's History Archive – a strong link to our past (bpha.online) contains some interviews from a 2023 Historic England project – an example, of Charlotte interviewing John, who worked in the Jewellery Quarter, is below. Some people 

who were interviewed joined in other BPHA activities, such as our community trip and talks. The 2024 interviews are part of a National Archives project, and it’s likely that some will also feature on BPHA’s website.

We’d love to hear your stories! If you’d like to be interviewed, or have questions about the project, please email gill@bpha.online  or write to her at the address above. She’ll answer any questions and explain the next steps, including details of your student interviewer.