Become a Friend, The Second World War Experience Centre in the near Leeds in UK exists to document the life in those times of anyone who lived through the 1939-1945 years.
Become a Friend! The Centre Needs YOU!
More than nine thousand people, men and women from many nations who lived through those turbulent times and whose recollections form an important part of the social history of the world; now have their own life remembered in the Centre through original documents, photographs, memorabilia and voice or video recordings. It is an international archive keenly concerned to welcome contact with people who might be able to contribute to and benefit from the Centre’s work.
The Second World War Experience Centre was supported Financially at its formation by a group of Benefactors, several of whom continue their support to this day
Much of the work in gathering, conserving, cataloging and researching the Archive is done by Volunteers. Housing of the Archive, digitising, cataloging and conservation materials and a very small paid staff necessary to support the Charity, assisting research and enquiries is funded entirely by charitable donations and bequests.
Our sincere thanks to those who support us – PLEASE join them
Become a Friend of the Centre , make a small monthly, or a single annual donation and know you are supporting SWWEC, working hard to keep and grow this wonderful educational resource. Saving the lives through their memories, of those who lived through World War Two.
If you would prefer to make a single donation and not become an ongoing Friend of the Centre then we would welcome that too. You can donate securely online from any page on the website via the “make a donation” graphic or we would be pleased to receive a cheque by post.
Why not make a gift of a Friend membership to someone you know who is interested in the WWII period or Social History? Simply complete the information with their name. There are extra friends only items on the website, reduced price back copies of the journal and free copies of future Journals to give you a window for Friends on what we hold in the Centre.
Click the SWWEC Logo to Become a Friend and join us!
There are at best less than 10 years left for us to collect and conserve WWII material and memories, before a great deal of the material and certainly the personal testimony will have been lost. This creates the urgent need for help in identifying and preserving material and capturing oral memories, before they are gone forever. The memories of anyone in whatever capacity that lived through these times, including as children, military , civilian at home, conscientious objectors, etc .
If you have Second World War documentation, memorabilia or memories – either relating to your own wartime experience or that of a family member or friend – we would be delighted to hear from you.
We have for the last 14 years been ensuring that these memories are conserved, properly cared for, and used in education and research.
Typical items in the collection are:
- Archives (e.g. letters, diaries, log books)
- Photographs and drawings
- Medals and citations
- Ephemera (e.g. cigarette cases, trinket boxes, soldiers’ ‘housewives’ etc.)
- Books (published volumes are held in our library)
- The Centre also has circa 5000 oral history interviews and a small collection of video material.
Please contact us if you, a relative or friend has wartime memories or documents, photographs etc that might enhance the ‘picture’ of the time of World War Two held in the archive.
Thank You