Woodcraft Archives 

Where are the stories?

The first place to look for the stories is with the people in local groups across the UK.  We've done our best to document some of these so they can be conserved, made accessible and used.   Archives we have used are:

Woodcraft Folk Archive, UCL Special Collection

Originally part of the Youth Movement Archive (YMA) at London School of Economics (LSE). The Youth Movement Archive was established in 1973 at University College, Cardiff. The archives of the Kibbo Kift Kindred, the Green Shirt Movement and the Social Credit Party were placed in the College Library in 1978, with a further deposit in [1982]. The papers of the Woodcraft Folk were deposited by them in 1978. Papers of C J Hunt were deposited in 1982 by his executors and the Douglas Literary Trust. The entire Youth Movement Archive was transferred to the British Library of Political and Economic Science in 1984, with further material being given in 1986 and 1987. Further material was deposited by the Kibbo Kift Foundation in 1986 and 1989, and by C A Tacey in 1988. The archives making up the YMA were disaggregated in 2008 into separate collections in order to facilitate their management and promotion.

The Woodcraft Folk Archive was then transferred from LSE to the Institute of Education Archives in 2018.

Email: ioe.arch-enquiries@ucl.ac.uk

Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/collections/special-collections/our-collections/

Woodcraft Folk Cudham Archive

Newly established 2024 at Cudham Environmental Activities Centre run by Woodcraft Folk, this archive is available on request.

Email cudham@woodcraft.org.uk

Website: woodcraft.org.uk/centre/cudham-environmental-activities-centre

Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives

Documenting the experiences of everyday people, and the extraordinary individuals and organisations who have strived for social, political, and cultural change. 

Since the archive opened to the public in 1895 it has been steadily growing, with unique collections gifted and loaned to us. Some are London focused, but the lives they preserve and the issues they explore have national and global resonance.  You will find John (Badger) Colbert collection here.

Email: library@bishopsgate.org.uk
Website: https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/

The British Library 

Woodcraft Folk oral history interviews, particularly those from the "90 Years of the Woodcraft Folk" project (2015-16), are archived in the British Library and the UCL Institute of Education. 

Email: customer@bl.uk  

Website: https://sami.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=ISJsPQYFvV/WORKS-FILE/X/60/502/X 

Woodcraft Folk Heritage Collection

Woodcraft Folk online Heritage collection is primarily a digital archive documenting and making easily accessible digital records as well as linking to archives and collections, including some private collections. The Collection is currently offline, but will be available again in early 2026.  For more information and access to existing material:

Email: heritage@woodcraft.org.uk

Website: woodcraft.org.uk/projects-campaigns/100-objects-spanning-100-years/

For any further information about 100 Objects Spanning 100 Years contact:

marcus.belben@woodcraft.org.uk