BirminghamLives is about you, whoever you are, whatever you do, however you fit into Birmingham’s story. It is about your experiences, old and new; your family, young or old; and your community and our shared cultures.

BirminghamLives has developed from the wonderful material collected by Professor Carl Chinn MBE, through his Birmingham People’s History Archive. The enthusiasm of the people of Birmingham has resulted in Carl receiving thousands of photographs, film, sound recordings, original documents such as letters and diaries, and personal stories of life in Birmingham. This material is now being used to increase access to your heritage through the Internet. Working with Carl Chinn, South Birmingham College, Birmingham Grid for Learning, Netmedia Education, and in partnership with Community Heritage Curators, volunteers and the local community, BirminghamLives aims to raise awareness of the cultural heritage that has shaped Birmingham.

Thanks to the wholehearted belief in this project of South Birmingham College, BirminghamLives now has a full-time curator who will catalogue the collection and put it onto the BirminghamLives website.

Together we want to build a record of, and share in, the personal and communal histories of the people of Birmingham. The many cultures that make up Birmingham have created a cultural heritage unique to us. BirminghamLives is a new way of accessing, learning from and expressing that heritage and telling our story.

Stories that go untold change nothing… stories that are told can broaden minds, bring hope and raise a smile… Make your part in Birmingham’s history known… be proud of the part you have played…