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Peace Process History

Imperial War Museum (IWM)

This resource falls under the following categories:

  • Access Online
  • Peace Process
  • Interviews Available

Access the website.

The IWM is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. The Film and Video Archive has extensive material relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland including interviews with soldiers who served in Northern Ireland (covering topics such as public order situations and barracks life) and a BBC Radio 4 programme entitled ‘The Reunion: The Maze Prison’ in which Susan MacGregor meets prisoners, staff and negotiators who were involved in the Maze Prison hunger strikes of the early 1980s. The archive also holds a number of videos and films also available, notably Army recruitment commercials for the UDR, a documentary chronicling the history of the ‘troubles’, Drumcree footage from 1999 and 2000 and the ‘BBC’s Bomb Disposal Men’ and ‘Ireland Behind the Wire’, which is critical of the Army and British policy in Ireland. The Sound Archive has substantial holdings on the peace process including: a press conference with then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on negotiations with the Irish government concerning legal, economic and environmental issues relevant to Northern Ireland: a 1971 interview with a British widow of soldier with Royal Green Jackets killed in Northern Ireland, an interview with the British father of deceased IRA member killed (son's early life, father's hopes for peace); a 1975 interview with then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on hopes for progress during the IRA ceasefire; and a number of other interviews with members of both communities who have suffered directly as a result of the conflict.

Strengths:

The archive offers insights into the various aspects of the conflict from paramilitary, governmental, peace activist, civilian and military perspectives.

Access:

Available online, no restrictions.

Contact:

IWM London
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7416 5320     
Email: mail@iwm.org.uk

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