The First World War: new primary source collection

The Library has acquired perpetual access to the First World Portal, produced by Adam Matthews, a superb primary source archive of digitised World War One materials.

Using extensive sources from personal collections and rare printed material to military files, ephemera and artwork, the First World War Portal highlights the experiences of soldiers, civilians and governments on both sides of the conflict and in multiple theatres of war.

The resource showcases intimate personal narratives, wartime propaganda and recruitment material, the truly global reach of the conflict, and the role of women in war through various documentary and visual forms.

The Archives consists of four modules:

Module I: Personal experiences

Module II: Propaganda and recruitment 

Module III: Visual perspectives and narratives

Module IV: A Global Conflict

Highlights include:

• Personal narratives and trench journals
• Papers of the British, French, Australian and New Zealand troops serving on various fronts
• An extensive collection of German trench papers
• Propaganda literature from various international perspectives, including North and South America and the Middle East, Australasia, Scandinavia, and Europe
• Government and military files, featuring material from the War Press Office in Berlin
• Visual propaganda items, such as posters, postcards and cartoons
• Recruitment booklets and training manuals
• Official and personal photograph collections depicting international forces, refugees, women's roles and life on the Home Front
• Diaries and letters covering topics such as training auxiliary services, nursing, hospital ships and religion
• Film clips showcasing key events and themes, including the aftermath of Franz Ferdinand's assassination, medical services, propaganda and women's work
• British government documentation offering insight into the involvement of Britain's colonies during the war
• Memoirs, diaries and official papers relating to Russia's war and the Revolution

The First World War Portal can be accessed via the Library Catalogue or by directly via this link.

Collection Development / Forbairt Bailiúchán