Over 75,000 Photographs, 15,000 Flyers, Objects and Ephemera, 500 Academic Journals & Articles, and 150 Oral Histories. 

An educational & cultural research resource of primary sources exploring 100 years of youth culture through the scenes, styles, and sounds that forged them. From Rave, Punk, Rockabilly to Grime.

From the world’s leading collection of youth culture history.





Photography
Delve into 100 years of subculture history with a simple search tool and workspace feature allowing users to pin research into organised folders for easy access. Students can explore and reference exclusive photography celebrating our rich social fabric with free download access for educational use.
Audio & Oral History
Listen to the voice of subculture history through recorded and transcribed oral histories made with key youth culture figures, partygoers, movers-and-shakers and everyday folk; representing an eclectic balanced view of life growing up in Britain. Podcasts, historical audio mixes and subcultural music playlists bring immersive, subcultural insights for research and brand projects.
Flyers, Objects and Ephemera
Incorporating over 15,000 flyers and zines documenting historic concerts, raves and events from Hippies to 2Tone, to Acid House, the Subculture Archives chronicles the design and visual communication of youth cultures’ self expression through printed and paper means from the 1960s to present day. From moral panic stricken newspaper front covers, to customised clothing and school satchells, all browsable online.
Articles, Journals & Research
Working with PhD researchers and specialist subculture writers from The Subcultures Network, the Subculture Archives chronicles the socio-political journey of youth culture from the 1920s to present day alongside anecdotal articles, features and historic journals and magazines including Sleazenation and the iconic 60s biker mag,The Link.
Examples of Research Topics Covered

Over 1000 images, and 20 articles added per month.
RAVE CULTURE
SOCIAL HISTORY
ACID HOUSE
FLAPPERS
EMO
INDIE
GRIME
DRILL
Y2K
DIGITAL YOUTH 
PUNKS
NEW ROMANTICS
YOUNG ACTIVISTS
BOY & GIRL RACERS
DRUM N BASS
DUBSTEP
TECHNO 
JUNGLISTS
POST-PUNK
MODS
HIP-HOP
FREE PARTIES
RURAL YOUTH
SURFERS
SKATERS
NEW ROMANTICS
YOUNG ACTIVISTS
SOCIAL MEDIA
SKINHEADS
GOTHS
PUNKS
TEDDY BOYS
FOOTBALL CASUALS
SOUNDSYSTEM CULTURE
CLUB KIDS
ROCKABILLY
POST-PUNK
METAL
NU-METAL
NU-RAVE
UK GARAGE
CLUB CULTURE
BLACK HISTORY
LGBTQ+ YOUTH
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM
BHANGRA
STRAIGHT EDGE
HIPPIES
SLOANE RANGERS


“The Museum of Youth Culture is a first of its kind in that it recognises the cultural significance of one of the UK’s major assets, the long history of an ability to create and celebrate youth culture and the music, fashion, film, art, photography and written word that flows from it. Importantly it gives today’s young people a positive platform to tell their stories and works nationally to inspire future generations to show off their great British creativity.  It is incredible that no Museum has existed to celebrate Britain’s unique and world famous youth movements until now and I look forward to working them as they build towards a permanent home in the near future.”

Wayne Hemingway, MBE

“The Museum of Youth Culture digital archive is a fascinating resource, loaded with a diverse range of materials - from club night photographs and concert flyers to audio collages and personal essays. On our Drawing For Character course, students study the historical context and visual aesthetic of a variety of youth subcultures in order to practice putting together research documents, to grow their confidence in drawing people and clothing, and to learn more about our shared social and creative culture.  So, what has been most helpful to our students researching punk, drag, rave, hippies, mods, goths, new romantics, etc. is that these materials serve to deepen their understanding of subculture beyond basic pop cultural familiarity, and into a more tactile, intimate and human place. These primary sources place youth movements in a real time and place and show the authentic joy and community within them. We are grateful to have access to this archive!”
Tutor, School of Design, Edinburgh University


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