Do many WW2 researchers visit archives and sites any more?

Just wondering how many people researching people or events of WW2 still visit archives, museums, battlefield sites, cemeteries, etc these days? Do many still visit the National Archives, Imperial War Museum sites, local archives or libraries (where such places still exist), cemeteries or Regimental museums, for example?

Accessing documents seems to be increasingly more online, and obviously everyone on here must have a fair bit of online discussion about WW2 and associated topics.

 

For my research projects I have visited the reading room @ National Army Museum (NAM), The British Library (for books and microfiche records until their cyber attack October 2024); the Essex County Museum (for a day) to access their archives; my local library, plus the RUSI Library (London), B'ham Library and B'ham University Library. One CWGC cemetery and one private school - which had the only copy of a book by a former headmaster.

I do have a number of WW2 books to hand, mainly read a long time ago.

 

Increasing online and yet there are still masses of documents that are not.

I used to go to Library and Archives Canada quite a lot, but I support a researcher in Ottawa so more often now he goes for me. But I made a list of at least half a dozen Royal Artillery books to check at the Toronto Reference Library next weekend, and I looked at a couple of books two weeks ago as well.

I don't know about all the other things, though. I tried to get in touch in several ways with the RHLI museum in Hamilton (Ontario) and never got a reply. I do still want to visit HMCS Haida this year though.

The quality of online discussion is really variable. I can have good conversations with historians and people who have read a lot on Bluesky, but on reddit... egh...

 

I regularly get documents copied from The National Archives (those that haven't yet been digitised) and a few weeks ago I spent a day at Larkhill Barracks Archive. I'm also arranging a day at Keough Barracks (RAMC museum). I also have dozens of books, that I can refer to...when required.

 

I visit cemeteries quite a lot.

 

I have not got back into the swing of visiting TNA since the pandemic.

 

I think quite a few of us do Clive .

Lesley

 

I always enjoy visiting Battlefield Sites as well as countless other Sites connected to the Second World War.

I prefer to learn about places by visiting and am of the opinion that when it comes to my interest in WW2 'If you don't go then you won't know'

With the amount of photographs I have taken over the years Digital has saved me a fortune in 35mm Film!
Andy.

 

We try to visit Battlefields of all ages, all periods. Its always nice to get the feel of a place whilst you're researching it.

 

I would add I do photograph war and memorial related objects and post them on here. I have many thousands of CWGC and Private headstones from 500 plus cemeteries and churchyards around the country. A number in the London and Greater London area. Still reporting to CWGC any issues with headstones or the cemetery which they investigate over time. I do think this forum keeps very active in the ongoing picture and research of history.

 

The internet has created the conditions to give access to material - and usually kind sources of information - that were difficult to imagine thirty plus years ago. We are lucky. Thank YOU. Like many, I do

ever conscious and sometimes reminded by my co-pilot that others have different interests, or that sojourns close to the M25 are usually geared around the minding of small people and invariably not to facilitate getting

I still use hard copy libraries, if I can ......... trying to convince myself that it helps keep them open, ditto museums. Somehow these often bring additional bonuses also unimagined at the start of the visit. As I mentioned to another member recently, a rareish book sourced through what remains of a system brought a pleasant surprise when I opened the cover:

and I wondered what a late old acquaintance had got out of it? Trip to Normandy in early May, balanced by a visit to Monet's garden. Can't be bad.

 

Museums and Archive visits: most definitely. Not all photographs are digitised! Wouldn't be where I am today with my research if I hadn't visited (Bovington Tank Museum Library and Archive....and others).

 

I've got the one more visit in me.

 

It is not a race!

 

TNA once a month....My lad loves it

 

Sub species?

 

Avoiding museum and the like now. I'm at the age where I'm afraid they'll think I'm a exhibit gone tharn.