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A hand holds a paper cutout of a person with a Waste Heat Boiler sign, placed over a technical diagram. Another small figure sits near blocks and circles drawn on the diagram, which features handwritten notes and arrows.
Memory Machine: acts of witnessing

A performance-research event with Our Tiny Factory on Tuesday 4 November 2025
Double-exposure of a hand-drawn industrial process diagram on paper, featuring two silhouetted figures, a large magenta blob, and a reflective surface.
Breathing the Archive: Tavistock archive activity day

Performance researcher Heni Hale invites you to an exploratory activity day encountering our archive materials. Free, in-person, 14 June 2025 in London

Workshop
Image of wallpaper collage
Encountering our archive materials through artistic practice-as-research

Performance researcher Heni Hale is using the Tavistock archive to explore the meaning of work then and now
Two people sit at a table in a library. One is smiling and writing in a notebook, while the other sits opposite, also smiling. The table has papers and some electronic devices on it. Bookshelves filled with books are in the background.
Clips from the PARCS Grows Everybody Oral Histories

Listen to these clips from the PARCS Grows Everybody Oral Histories via Soundcloud.
A drone image of the city of Portsmouth
The PARCS Grows Everybody Documentary Film

Watch the PARCS Grows Everybody documentary film here.
Entrance of a brick building with a large arched window and door displaying "aspex portsmouth" in white letters. Signs for gallery, café, and shop are visible. Outdoor seating with a striped umbrella is in the foreground.
Aspex Portsmouth
Smiling man with glasses and light-colored hair, wearing a button-up shirt and dark sweater, stands in a library with blurred bookshelves in the background.
Accessing Archives workshops

Discover the PARCS Grows Everybody oral history archive through these workshops.

Other
A person in a black shirt engages with an art installation featuring ropes or wires in a modern gallery space. There's a blurred view of a TV screen and abstract shapes in the background.
Sidestepping

Searching for embodied experiences of work and labour in the Institute’s archive

Black and white image of an elderly man wearing glasses, seated at a table, writing on paper with a pen. A bottle is visible on the table. The scene is dimly lit, creating a serene and focused atmosphere.
A.K. Rice: A Forgotten Giant at The Tavistock Institute

Jean Neumann and Antonio Sama trace A.K. Rice’s legacy embedded and captured in articles, books and other source documents.

Lunchtime Talks
A crosswalk with a red light.
How ‘Human Relations’ Got Its Name

The Journal as Boundary Object

Lunchtime Talks
Two booklets titled "Settling Down in Civvy Street" from the Civil Resettlement Units. The covers are simple with green text and a border. The left booklet is slightly faded, and the right one is labeled "Mark II.
What is restored to the picture by delving into the Tavistock archive?

Alice White’s lunchtime talk provides insight into the people, processes, challenges and opportunities behind the Civil Resettlement Units of the 1940s.

Lunchtime Talks
An elderly man in a sweater and checkered shirt stands smiling in front of a chalkboard filled with handwritten diagrams and text at a conference.
Exploring Harold Bridger’s Archive

This talk explores the ways in which Harold Bridger shaped the history, memory, and identity of the Tavistock Institute between the years 1947 and c.1990

Lunchtime Talks
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Festival — 70 years of the Tavistock Institute
Conference
A surreal collage featuring a black and white photo of a smiling person's face, partially covered by an oversized image of a feathered hat or texture. The background is plain, enhancing the focus on the unusual composition.
Everything is scattered and the tower has collapsed

Exploring the role of art in activism at the Art of Management and Organisation Conference.
A museum display showcasing historical documents and a colorful chart under glass. The room features informational panels and has a modern, minimalistic design with natural lighting.
Funded Doctoral Opportunity
Relational Practices and the Tavistock Institute's Archive
A dancer in a long flowing dress performs on a dimly lit stage. The background is dark, with a spotlight highlighting the dancer's graceful pose, arms elegantly extended.
#3 Social Dreaming Matrix: Social Dreaming Matters Through Dream Sharing. Notes from the third matrix 8th November 2021
A dancer in a long flowing dress performs on a dimly lit stage. The background is dark, with a spotlight highlighting the dancer's graceful pose, arms elegantly extended.
#2 Social Dreaming Matrix: Social Dreaming Matters Through Dream Sharing. Notes from the second matrix 4th November 2021
A dancer in a long flowing dress performs on a dimly lit stage. The background is dark, with a spotlight highlighting the dancer's graceful pose, arms elegantly extended.
#1 Social Dreaming Matrix: Social Dreaming Matters Through Dream Sharing. Notes from the first matrix 1st November 2021
A black and white photo of a person with shoulder-length hair facing sideways. There is a large, decorative butterfly-shaped object covering their mouth, resembling a unique mask. The person is wearing a dark-colored top.
Awakening an Untamed Presence
In conversation with Simone Kennedy, Visiting Artist-in-Residence.
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
No ostriches in the sand
Working to open up our ‘Born Digital’ archive. In autumn 2014, we established our paper archive at the Wellcome Library. It holds a comprehensive record of the formation, establishment and development of TIHR over a period of 70 years...
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#14 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 – a year on. Notes from 17th June 2021
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#15 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from the final matrix and review 24th June 2021
A sketched rectangle with an 'X' inside, drawn in black charcoal on a white background. The lines are rough and textured.
Dreaming Of Compassion
Archer, C (2021) ‘Dreaming Of Compassion’. In K. Waddington (ed.) Towards the Compassionate University: From Golden Thread to Global Impact. London: Routledge.
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#13 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 - a year on. Notes from 10th June 2021
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
# 12 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 3rd June 2021
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
# 11 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 27 May 2021
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
# 9 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on Notes from 13th May 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#10 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 20th May
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#8 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 6th May 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#7 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 29th April 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#6 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 22nd April 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#5 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 15th April 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#4 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 8th April 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#3 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 1st April 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#2 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 25th March 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
#1 Social Dreaming Matrix: Covid-19 a year on. Notes from 18th March 21
A whimsical watercolor painting of a cat with a spotted coat, looking slightly to the side. It wears what appears to be a hat or hood with additional spots, and a small branch with leaves is visible in the top right corner.
Social Dreaming Matrix
Online dreaming sessions
A Fujifilm Hi8 tape case and a Sony 8mm video cassette with an orange label marked with handwritten notes are placed on a light-colored surface.
Rediscovering Harold Bridger
His Life, Work and Legacy
A Fujifilm Hi8 tape case and a Sony 8mm video cassette with an orange label marked with handwritten notes are placed on a light-colored surface.
Harold Bridger in his own words

A Wellcome Trust funded archival project to catalogue the records of Harold Bridger (1909-2005).
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#16 Social Dreaming Matrix and Review during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 25th June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#15 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 22nd June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#14 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 18th June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#13 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 15th June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#12 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 11th June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#11 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 8th June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#10 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 4th June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#9 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 1st June
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#8 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 28 May
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#7 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 21 May
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#6 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 18 May
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#5 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 14 May
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#4 Social Dreaming Matrix during the Covid-19 pandemic. Notes from 11 May
If we were to give the session a title it would be: Lemon Drop Soup to the Superhero • 48 participants – about 34 female/ 14 male • We lost count of dreams.. and associations..
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#3 — At the breakfast table he is approached by someone he argued with 34 years ago.

#3 — At the breakfast table he is approached by someone he argued with 34 years ago...
A watercolor sketch depicts a bat with spread wings placed on a necklace. There's a sign reading "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea" beneath the display. The necklace is framed by leaves.
#2 — the letter a. No longer warm, cosy and round but flat with a stick coming out of it — a threat...

#2 — the letter a. No longer warm, cosy and round but flat with a stick coming out of it — a threat...
Watercolor illustration of a bat taxidermy necklace from Papua New Guinea, featuring a bat with outstretched wings inside a circular frame. A plaque below reads, "Bat Teeth Necklace Papua New Guinea.
#1 — rolling an orb along the ground, between the dreamer and another...

#1 — rolling an orb along the ground, between the dreamer and another...
A watercolor illustration of a "Bat Teeth Necklace" from Papua New Guinea. The necklace features spread-out bat wings and intricate details. A label below identifies the item.
Social Dreaming Matrix
Online dreaming sessions during Covid-19
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
The Vocational Potential of Anthropology: Teaching Organisational Research Through Practitioner Archives
Cory Pearce. E. and Scott J., (2020).  'The Vocational Potential of Anthropology: Teaching Organisational Research Through Practitioner Archives' in  Teaching Anthropology, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 10-24.
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
The Experience of Being 70 or Over
A rough, hand-drawn charcoal sketch of a large "X" inside a square, both outlined with thick lines on a plain white background.
On Being an Orphan – an untold story
Cover of the book "Dynamics at Boardroom Level: A Tavistock Primer for Leaders, Coaches, and Consultants" edited by Mannie Sher, Leslie Brissett, and Tazi Lorraine Smith. It features a colorful molecular structure on a yellow surface.
Dynamics at Boardroom Level
An image of colorful, vertical strips of film negatives against a gradient backdrop. The negatives have various patterns and texts, creating a visually striking arrangement.
Tavistock at ‘Art & Activism’ in Liverpool 2020
Inviting contributions to an arts stream – Across the Universe
A close up of a film strip.
Tavistock at ‘Art&Activism’ in Liverpool 2020
A group of people sit around a table with film reels, notepads, and pens. Various film strips are scattered across the surface. Bottles and mugs are also visible, suggesting a meeting or workshop setting.
I felt like I was there

Working with the digital archives of the Leicester Conference, a post by Karen Kiss.
A watercolor painting of two bicycles on green grass. One yellow bike is at the edge, partially visible. A blue bike is in the center. A red and white sign nearby is partially visible, with unclear text.
Archive-A-Live!
A symposium exploring the Tavistock Institute’s archive.
A group of people sit and discuss in a bright room with high ceilings. A display board titled "Reimagining Human Relations in our Time" and a colorful quilt on a bed frame are visible in the room.
Call for Proposals: Archive-A-Live!
A display featuring a round, colorful textile object with concentric circles in various colors behind a glass. A card with details such as title, author, weight, and materials like felt and fleece is visible on the wooden surface below.
Accepting the Constancy of Subjectivity

Personal reflections from working with the TIHR archive
Watercolor illustration of three people sitting and talking on a giant tomato. The scene is whimsical, with the group casually engaging in conversation atop the oversized vegetable. The colors are soft and the atmosphere is relaxed.
The Social Dreaming International Network (SDiN)
We warmly welcome the SDiN in a new collaborative partnership.
Exhibit display titled "Past, Present & Future: From the Tavistock Institute Archive." Features informational panels, framed documents, a chart, and publications. The setup is on a white wall with a white display table containing archival materials.
TIHR wins National Archive Scoping Grant!
Born Digital - kickstarting the next phase of our archive strategy.
A multi-tiered prison cell block with metal bars and railings. The hallway is empty, and the lighting is dim. The structure is made of concrete and metal, with multiple levels visible.
Community Matters!
Abstract image with blurred streaks of red, orange, and green light, creating a sense of movement and energy. The colors blend and swirl together, with some rectangular shapes faintly visible in the background.
Social media in emergencies: A representative study on citizens’ perception in Germany
Reuter, C., Kaufhold, M. A., Spielhofer, T., & Hahne, A. S. (2017). Social media in emergencies: A representative study on citizens’ perception in Germany. Proceedings of the ACM: Human Computer Interaction (PACM): Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing, 1(2), 1-19.
Painting of four men on a small boat navigating through water. Three are rowing with wooden oars, while one stands in the center, balancing. The men are dressed in white shirts and hats, set against a vivid blue and brown background.
Learning the details: when honoring the past liberates the creativity in the present.

Antonio Sama relates how the archive inspired a new relationship with his mentor.
Watercolor illustration of three people sitting and talking on a gigantic tomato. One person sits on the green stem. The background is plain, highlighting the whimsical scene and the interaction between the figures.
#4 Social Dreaming Matrix Notes From Wednesday 28 November 2018
Watercolor illustration of three people sitting and talking on a gigantic tomato. One person sits on the green stem. The background is plain, highlighting the whimsical scene and the interaction between the figures.
#3 Social Dreaming Matrix Notes From 22nd November
Watercolor illustration of three people sitting and talking on a gigantic tomato. One person sits on the green stem. The background is plain, highlighting the whimsical scene and the interaction between the figures.
#2 Social Dreaming Matrix Notes from 16th November
Watercolor illustration of three people sitting and talking on a gigantic tomato. One person sits on the green stem. The background is plain, highlighting the whimsical scene and the interaction between the figures.
#1 Social Dreaming Matrix Notes from 6th November
A group of eight people stand together in a hallway, smiling at the camera. They are wearing lanyards and casual business attire. Various displays and a "Stairs" sign are visible in the background.
TIHR storm Chicago!
Read about the symposium convened by Jean Neumann at this year’s Academy of Management Conference in Chicago.
A sketched rectangle with an 'X' inside, drawn in black charcoal on a white background. The lines are rough and textured.
On not being an academic & representing TIHR at the Academy of Management
‘Tavi-stock-taking’ with Dr Sadie King
Aerial view of a city skyline with tall skyscrapers and a large body of water to the left. A highway runs alongside a lush green park with trees. The sky is partly cloudy with a bright and clear atmosphere.
Opening the Tavistock Institute’s Archives: Dialogue between Past and Present
International Symposium delivers on 70th festival promise at AOM Annual Meeting
A stack of documents tied with string rests on a cardboard box and a concrete ledge, with ornate white molding visible in the background. The papers appear to be official or archival records.
Inviting proposals from experienced Digital Records Management Consultants
A person lies on the floor surrounded by colorful fabric and shredded paper. A large purple fabric is held above them by people standing nearby. A seated audience observes the scene in the background.
Featuring from the ArchLive: Ambient Jam Collective
Keeping you informed about content and resources from our 70th Anniversary Celebrations festival.
A room with tables filled with piles of brown folders and stacks of cardboard boxes. The walls have framed black and white photos. The setting suggests an office or archive for document organization.
Conference: exploring the Tavistock and Portman archives
A woman stands at a podium on a stage, giving a presentation. A large screen behind her displays a quote: "I suppose you are nobody's daughter" from Charlotte Brontë's "Villette." The stage has two chairs and a small table.
Thank You Letter from #TIHR70
Bringing you news and photos from our Four Days in October...
A large group of paper cutout figures holding hands, forming a network. The figures cast soft shadows on a light surface, creating a sense of depth and connection. The image conveys themes of community and unity.
Festival Social Dreaming Matrices #4: Friday 20 Oct 2017
An orange background with two words written in white: "DREAM" at the top and "ACTION" below it.
Festival Social Dreaming Matrices #3: Thurs 19 Oct 2017
A large group of paper cutout figures holding hands, forming a network. The figures cast soft shadows on a light surface, creating a sense of depth and connection. The image conveys themes of community and unity.
Festival Social Dreaming Matrices #2: Wed 18 Oct 2017
An orange background with two words written in white: "DREAM" at the top and "ACTION" below it.
Festival Social Dreaming Matrices #1: Tue 17 Oct 2017
Handwritten text listing three items: 1) Memorandum for Dr. Alan Gregg on social psychiatry developments at the Tavistock Clinic, dated Dec. 1945. 2) Extracts from "Good Enough Report," Education Act Health Service Bill, dated June 1946.
Goodwill greeting from The Rockefeller Foundation
The 70th anniversary of the Tavistock Institute is a significant achievement that deserves all our admiration and attention.  Congratulations on organizing yet another incredible festival. We so wish that we could be there with all of you on this special occasion....
A collection of historical documents from the Tavistock Clinic, including reports and memoranda, with various colors and fonts, dated from the mid-20th century.
Tavistock Institute of Human Relations and Tavistock Clinic: A Conversation Between two Archives
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Final Festival Picks
With just a few days to the opening of Reimagining Human Relations in our Time...
A pencil points to a sheet of paper labeled WELLCOME LIBRARY with SATIIB/14 handwritten below.
Announcing Release of New Material
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
an invitation from the amazon
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Henry Riley: A Personal History of Human Relations
A black-and-white photo of a spacious room with chairs and people, overlaid with hand-drawn colorful elements: blue and yellow panels, and black outlines of chairs and people enhancing the scene.
Where are the festival venues?
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Animating Evidence
Two illuminated digital displays of portraits on a dark wall. Each portrait depicts the same woman with a serious expression, adorned with floral headpieces. The left art has a dark background, and the right shows greenery. Both have small display cards.
Carrying our history lightly
TIHR’s Coreene Archer and Rita Keegan of the Women Artist’s Slide Library discuss the relevance, value and unexpected similarities between two very different archives. “We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics of our brains as they do in the spiralling chains of knowledge hidden in every cell of our bodies.” These are the words of the writer Shirley Abbott and I think they contain a deep truth. For me, they are relevant and equally meaningful to an individual and to an organisation. In this piece, I apply their truth to both individual and organisation through the lens of exploring the creation of an archive, a body of work which too is passed from generation to generation. With the passage of time how we think about and understand information changes [...]
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Remembering Brendan Duddy: the Secret Peacemaker
A framed painting of a woman with flowers in her hair on a dark wall. She wears a brown shawl, and the background features leaves and a cloudy sky. Below is a heart icon with the number 35132.
Carrying our history lightly
TIHR’s Coreene Archer and Rita Keegan of the Women Artist’s Slide Library discuss the relevance, value and unexpected similarities between two very different archives.
Aerogramme with a handwritten address to Eric J. Miller at the Tavistock Institute, London, U.K. It features a purple 650 paise "Indian Postage" stamp, green paper, and partial handwritten text in the background.
Conversations from the Archive
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Impact of Tavistock Group Relations & Individual Consultation
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Learning from young leaders in the Peruvian Amazon
A rough, hand-drawn charcoal sketch of a large "X" inside a square, both outlined with thick lines on a plain white background.
BED
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Ambient Jam Collective
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Testing Times: What Did it Take to be a War Officer in WWII?
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Time-Travelling Through the Tavistock Archives
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Human Relations 70th Anniversary Workshop
A large paper pad in front of bookshelves displays a task. It reads: "Make a drawing individually or collectively of your image-in-the-mind of ECP's history and the nature of our archives." Books fill the shelves behind the pad.
What’s our archive got to do with me? The challenges of collective reflection
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Library Tour & Archive Show & Tell
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Library Tour & Archive Show & Tell
A sketched rectangle with an 'X' inside, drawn in black charcoal on a white background. The lines are rough and textured.
A Participatory Performance: Shadows and Light
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
A Participatory Performance: Shadows and Light
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Living the Paradox: the Art of the Here and Now
A rough, hand-drawn charcoal sketch of a large "X" inside a square, both outlined with thick lines on a plain white background.
Living on a Prayer: Worship Posture as a Model for Societal Cohesion
A sketched rectangle with an 'X' inside, drawn in black charcoal on a white background. The lines are rough and textured.
TIHR & Tavistock Clinic: Historical Reflections & Thoughts for the Future Tavistock Enterprise
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Living Archive Conversations
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Living Archive Conversations
A sketched rectangle with an 'X' inside, drawn in black charcoal on a white background. The lines are rough and textured.
Exploring Connectedness
Banner for "Reimagining Human Relations in our Time," celebrating 70 years of The Tavistock Institute. Event dates: 17th-20th October 2017. Includes navigation tabs: About, Programme, Locations, Blog & News, and FAQ.
TIHR 70 Festival programme goes live
We are delighted to launch the website for ‘Reimagining Human Relations in Our Time’, a festival celebrating 70 years of the Tavistock Institute. At the heart of the festival is the Institute’s archive which over the last two years has been intricately and delicately catalogued at Wellcome Library. These two things coinciding – our anniversary and the launch of the archive – are a great cause for celebration because the insights of our forebears as they tackled past societal challenges, which we have always drawn upon as an organisation, are now available to you [...]
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Group Relations Event for the Silver Generation
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Crossing Borders
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Complexity, Evaluation & Theory of Change
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Digital Transformation & Leadership in Times of Industry 4.0
Soft-focused close-up of thin, reddish plant stems with small leaves, set against a warm, blurred background.
Uncanny Pleasure: All the Colour Nature Possesses
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Here is Where I am
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Before the Beginning and After the End
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Tavistock Poetry Reading
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Symposium: In the Shadow & Light of the Archive
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Festival Social Dreaming Matrices
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Past, Present & Future: From the Tavistock Institute Archive
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Object Relations: A Still Life Exhibition
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TIHR Projects Over the Decades
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Customising TIHR Traditions: Dialogue Towards an International Symposium
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Decades On: So where to for Group Relations in South Africa?
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History at Work: Building Organisational Memory, Empathy & Compassion
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From Dystopias to Desirable Futures in Human Relations
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Democracy at Risk: How Group Relations Illuminates
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From 'Authority & Leadership' to Identities & Cultures in Violent Conflict
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Acting in the Here & Then: The Theatre of Working Together, 2017-2087
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Virtual Simulations
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Activating the Alumni & Programme Showcase
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New Wine in Old Bottles - Intransigent Problems of Health & Social Care
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When Things Go Wrong... How Organisational Development Can Help
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The Earth Body We Live in and its Energetic Resources
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
North/South: an English Workshop
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Echoes of Fraternity
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Welcome to the What Works Wheel
A weathered document with text partially obscured by dark stains and discoloration. Only some words are legible, such as "Excess of Income," "Assuming Grants," and numbered notes below with text mostly indecipherable.
The fight between mould and dust: a free association from the archive
When the boxes from the archive were opened and the material was explored for cataloguing Elena Carter, with a worried look, told the Archive Project Group that one box contained mould and the item would therefore need to be treated/cleaned by Wellcome Trust's Conservation team. Luckily the mould was limited and no major damage was done. I understand that the enemies of archives, and libraries, are fire, flood and man-made catastrophes [...]
A close-up view from beneath a monkey puzzle tree, revealing its dense, spiky branches silhouetted against a clear blue sky. The unique, interwoven pattern of the branches creates a striking contrast with the light.
Calling for help to enhance Tavistock Institute biographies
A woman holding up a cardboard sign that says "GARDEN" stands beside a man reading from a paper. They both have mustaches drawn on their faces, and there is an audience in the foreground. A red sculpture is in the background.
Recreating the War Officer Selection Boards – the Social Researcher's experience
A woman holding a clipboard gestures while speaking in front of framed paintings and a flip chart displaying rows of illustrated people in uniforms and yellow outfits.
Recreating the War Officer Selection Boards – the Historian's experience
A group of people are gathered in a room with red carpeted stairs. They are seated with notebooks and clipboards, listening to a person speaking. Bookshelves and artwork are visible in the background.
Recreating the War Officer Selection Boards - the Archivist's experience
A narrow gravel path flanked by tall, dense green hedges stretches into the distance under a cloudy sky. The hedges form a tunnel-like view, creating a sense of depth and symmetry.
New Materials, New Methodologies: Joining the TIHR Archive Project
As a recently qualified Archivist, I have taken on the role of Project Archivist for this exciting project. In my first blog post, I offer just a short reflection on my new role and what it means to be newly involved at this exciting stage. Beginning a new job always brings that age old mixture of excitement, apprehension and wariness of the unknown. It was no different for me as the new Project Archivist on my first day at the Wellcome Library, foraying into the as yet unrevealed world and materials of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR) [...]
Close-up of a vintage airmail letter with red and blue stripes. The letter is handwritten in pen, addressed to India, and bears several postage stamps and cancel marks. The background shows more handwritten text.
From Ahmedabad to TCBL: an evaluator’s perspective on the Institute’s work in the textiles sector
Papers relating to the Tavistock Institute’s work in the cotton mills have now been catalogued as part of the Tavistock Institute Archive Project and are available for research at Wellcome Library. The archive covers the experimental reorganisation of weaving in both Indian and American cotton mills, from the perspectives of A K Rice and Eric Miller working in the field. Records include project papers, detailed field notes, research material and data, and correspondence. Clothes are something we put on every day. And yet, most of us pay little attention to who makes them, the raw material, skills and technology needed to produce them, where they are made, and the waste that is generated by making and buying clothes. [...]
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Changing the story: management panaceas as narrative interventions
Whittle, Susan Rosina (2015) 'Changing the story: management panaceas as narrative interventions', in Anders Ortenblad (ed.) Handbook of Research on Management Ideas and Panaceas, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK; Chapter 10, 173-189.
A close-up of handwritten text on a notebook cover. The text reads, "An analysis of the Hindu caste system and its interactions with the total social structure in certain parts of the Malabar Coast.
Stepping into Practice
A watercolor drawing split in two: on the left, a red floor, a cube with a rainbow, and shelves with bottles; on the right, a blue bicycle on green grass beside a red and white sign.
A review of part 2 Social Dreaming
This time the review began with a shorter social dreaming matrix Facilitation: Valerie Brown and Mannie Sher 10 people were present, 6 dreams and 11 associations were made [...]
A gray circular badge with the text "70 YEARS" in white.
Call for Contributions extended!
We are delighted and excited to be issuing this call inviting contributions to our festival in October 2017. Taking place over four days, Reimagining Human Relations in our Time, will be a multi-sited event taking place in the public domain. Its aims are: To engage and expand research interest in the Tavistock Institute’s archive material that is being catalogued at the Wellcome Library. To invite creative participation in our programme of work; our philosophical approach; applied methodologies and their potential in tackling current societal challenges. To offer activities consistent with the Tavistock Institute’s history and practice that will support an improved understanding of wellbeing- in its individual, organisational and societal dimensions. [...]
A person walks with a dog down a misty, tree-lined path. Sunlight filters through the towering trees, casting dramatic shadows on the ground. The scene is in black and white, enhancing the ethereal and serene atmosphere.
Podcast: Psychoanalytic Study and the Ethical Imagination: the making, finding and losing of a tradition
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Part 2 Social Dreaming Note #6: Tues 28 Feb 2017
Part 2 Social Dreaming #5: Tuesday 28th February: Wellcome Collection Reading Room Facilitation and write-up: Anne Benson and Rachel Kelly The final matrix of this series. 22 people joined. A matrix of few dreams and many associations. The dreams were vivid and detailed [...]
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Part 2 Social Dreaming Note #5: Weds 22 Feb 2017
Part 2 Social Dreaming #5: Tuesday 22nd February: Wellcome Collection Reading Room Facilitation and write-up: Camilla Child and Sol Szekir-Papasavva 24 people came to the matrix and 22 stayed 27 dreams were presented and 24 associations made [...]
A watercolor painting depicting two bicycles on a grassy background. One bike is yellow and the other is blue. In the top right corner, there's part of a sign with partially visible text in red and black.
Part 2 Social Dreaming Note #4: Tues 7 Feb 2017
Part 2 Social Dreaming #4: Tuesday 7th February: Wellcome Collection Reading Room Facilitation and write-up: Coreene Archer and Heather Stradling 15 people attended and all stayed 10 dreams were presented and over 35 associations made. [...]
A distorted world map highlights countries' sizes based on population distribution. Regions like Asia appear enlarged, while others like Australia and Greenland are significantly reduced, presenting a unique perspective on global demographics.
In Praise of Archives
When we visited the Tavistock Institute archive in 2013 it looked like it had seen better days. It consisted of box files pushed into cupboards. But all the documents were intact and are now gradually being catalogued, thanks to Juliet Scott and her team at the TIHR Archive Project, with support from the Wellcome Library [...]
Close-up of a rough, textured surface with large white salt crystals forming on a brownish ground. The image captures the detail of the salt's crystalline structure and its natural, uneven accumulation.
Mining the archives: exploring the potential for new applications of STS thinking and practice
Audio Recording: Exploring the potential for new applications of STS thinking and practice. In this talk Camilla Child looks to the Tavistock archives and takes us briefly through STS history and current practice. She looks at recent work with fresh eyes to see if we can uncover new understandings for future practice.
A watercolor painting of a red room with a dangling cube decorated with a rainbow and stars. To the right, glass shelves display ornate bottles of various shapes and colors. The scene has a whimsical and artistic feel.
Part 2 Social Dreaming Note #3: Tues 24 Jan 2017
A watercolor painting of a red room with a dangling cube decorated with a rainbow and stars. To the right, glass shelves display ornate bottles of various shapes and colors. The scene has a whimsical and artistic feel.
Part 2 Social Dreaming Note #2: Thurs 19 Jan 2017
Part 2 Social Dreaming #2: Thursday 19th January: Wellcome Collection Reading Room Facilitation and write up: Elizabeth Cory-Pearce and Mannie Sher The second Social Dreaming event for 2017 had 16 dreamers, 12 of whom stayed until the end of the session 11 dreams were presented Forty four or so associations were made [...]
A watercolor painting of a red room with a dangling cube decorated with a rainbow and stars. To the right, glass shelves display ornate bottles of various shapes and colors. The scene has a whimsical and artistic feel.
Part 2 Social Dreaming Note #1: Thurs 12 Jan 2017
A watercolor painting of a red room with a dangling cube decorated with a rainbow and stars. To the right, glass shelves display ornate bottles of various shapes and colors. The scene has a whimsical and artistic feel.
Invitation to Dream Again in the Wellcome Library Reading Room
It’s nearly six months since Friday 24th June when we kicked off the first series of Social Dreaming matrices in the Wellcome Library Reading Room. Brexit was unfolding, dreams were colourful and colourless, uncertainty prevailed. The questions we took in to these were on dreams and archival practice, on what happens in the recovery and relocation of an organisation’s archive and the relationship of this material to the world we live in now ...
Magazine cover titled "PLUMBING magazine" from July/August 1996. It features a woman sitting on a kitchen counter with a Worcester Bosch Thermotechnik unit behind her. The tagline reads "Heating & Hot Water Comfort.
Some thoughts on the nature of distraction
Distraction surrounds us every day in work: from the ambient clatter and noise of the open plan office, to the ringing and beeping of phones, the flurry of emails, and chatter of colleagues. Today I’ve been thinking today about the nature of distraction at work, but particularly in archival work. Cataloguing requires focus and attention, the careful sifting through of streams of data to try and make order out of chaos. I sit at my desk, my trolley of boxes beside me making a wall, a little archive cave of brown cardboard ...
A book titled "In Memoriam" with a photo and text for Eric John Miller is next to a yellow book titled "Annotated List of Publications 1946-1975" from The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations and The Tavistock Clinic.
Writing Without TIHR Archives
Only after I committed to writing the chapter did I remember that TIHR’s archives would be unavailable to me. I had been invited to contribute to a book about people the editors considered “great change thinkers”. I noted that Kurt Lewin, Eric Trist and Fred Emery were claimed already on an initial list of possibilities. I proposed successfully to lead on a chapter about Eric Miller, with colleague, Antonio Sama, leading on one about A. K. Rice ...
A watercolor illustration of a person in orange and green walking in an abstract, surreal setting. Below them are six small blue shapes numbered 1 to 6, resembling isolated sections of the background pattern.
Lessons of leadership from another age
It has been virtually impossible over the past month to escape the fiercely contested American presidential campaigns. Newspapers, social media, and television have all been caught up in debating what makes a good leader. Donald Trump was chosen by the people – was he the right choice? ...
A sketched rectangle with an 'X' inside, drawn in black charcoal on a white background. The lines are rough and textured.
“Bringing distinction and quality back to the word consultancy.” - Mannie Sher
A watercolor illustration of a person in orange and green walking in an abstract, surreal setting. Below them are six small blue shapes numbered 1 to 6, resembling isolated sections of the background pattern.
Testing times: What did it take to be a War Officer in WWII?

Using materials uncovered in the Tavistock archive, join us for a series of events to recreate war period psychology recruitment methods. Test your mettle through a combination of individual and group tests, including word association, thematic apperception, and some moustaches that Henry Wellcome himself would have been jealous of.
Two golden-brown fish sticks with a crispy breadcrumb coating are stacked on a white surface. The texture appears crunchy and appetizing.
“Eat it! It’s good for you!”: A personal response to the TIHR Fish Fingers Study of 1962
A calico cat stretches out on a paved surface, lying on its side with one paw extended forward. Its body is fully relaxed, showcasing a mix of orange, black, and white fur.
Sweets, Cats and Kitchens: My experience cataloguing the TIHR archive material
On a blue skied Monday in July I made my way to Euston station to join Elena Carter, the Tavistock Institute of Human Relation’s (TIHR) archivist, at the Wellcome Trust. This was the first day of my short placement where I was helping to catalogue the remaining registered document series reports (SA/TIH/B/1) before they were released in early September. As an apprentice at the TIHR opportunities come in a variety of places and as a member of the archive project team it seemed appropriate that I would be able to interact with the material and learn more about how the TIHR became what I now know it to be ...
Aerogramme with a handwritten address to Eric J. Miller at the Tavistock Institute, London, U.K. It features a purple 650 paise "Indian Postage" stamp, green paper, and partial handwritten text in the background.
The ‘Anthropological Thread’ in the Tavistock Institute of Human Relation’s Archive Lunchtime Talk
An abstract painting featuring a black-and-white top half with a silhouetted figure and a colorful bottom half with a red object, a brown cylindrical shape, and various undefined shapes. The scene blends geometric and organic forms.
Object Relations: an exhibition of still life prints, drawings and paintings
Object Relations: an exhibition of still life prints, drawings and paintings by Juliet Scott Helmsley Arts Centre, Yorkshire Tuesday 4th October to Friday 28th October 2016 This exhibition in Helmsley Arts Centre, Yorkshire will be the first iteration of work emerging in my role as artist-in-residence of the Tavistock Institute’s archive project ...
A watercolor triptych of various bottles labeled with numbers, such as "SOM1" and "SOM6." Each panel shows a different shaped bottle with corks, surrounded by subtle splashes of color and a brewing coffee pot in one.
#7 Summer Dreaming: write up of the Social Dreaming Matrices review by Juliet Scott
Held in the Wellcome Library, Reading Room on Wednesday 7th September 2016 Attended by facilitators from the Tavistock Institute; staff from the Wellcome Library and two participants who hadn’t attended any of the matrices but were interested to hear all about them ...
A pencil is shading a rectangular stamp with "SA/TIH" and "WELLCOME LIBRARY" printed on it.
Social Science in Action: reports from Tavistock Institute Archive
A close-up of a typed document with some handwritten pencil edits. The text discusses opinions on women's magazines and mentions a publication called "Forum." Some phrases are crossed out and annotated briefly in pencil.
From the Archive
Close-up of a rough, textured surface with large white salt crystals forming on a brownish ground. The image captures the detail of the salt's crystalline structure and its natural, uneven accumulation.
Preservation and mutability: salt and the archive – two dynamic systems

I have been thinking about salt a lot recently. Maybe a strange way to start a blog for the TIHR Archive Project but actually there are many connections between the qualities of salt and the archive.
A watercolor painting of a bottle with a label marked "SDM 6" and a cork on top. Inside, a small brown animal peeks out. The background features soft, abstract colors and textures.
Were you involved in our dreaming about the archive?
A watercolor painting of a bottle with a label marked "SDM 6" and a cork on top. Inside, a small brown animal peeks out. The background features soft, abstract colors and textures.
Social dreaming #6: Thu 28 July 2016
A watercolor painting of two potion bottles labeled "SDM 4" and "SDM 5" on a surface. In the background, a smartphone displays a score of 1000 with colored shapes on the screen. The background is a light pink hue.
Social Dreaming Note #5: Tues 19 July 2016
A watercolor painting of two potion bottles labeled "SDM 4" and "SDM 5" on a surface. In the background, a smartphone displays a score of 1000 with colored shapes on the screen. The background is a light pink hue.
Social Dreaming Note #4: Thurs 14 July 2016
A watercolor illustration of three bottles labeled SDM1, SDM2, and SDM3. The blue, green, and brown bottles have cork tops. A small bicycle is drawn at the top right, seemingly attached to a pink cloud.
Social Dreaming Note #3: Thurs 7th July 2016
A watercolor illustration of three bottles labeled SDM1, SDM2, and SDM3. The blue, green, and brown bottles have cork tops. A small bicycle is drawn at the top right, seemingly attached to a pink cloud.
Social Dreaming Note #2: Thursday 30 June 2016
A watercolor illustration of three bottles labeled SDM1, SDM2, and SDM3. The blue, green, and brown bottles have cork tops. A small bicycle is drawn at the top right, seemingly attached to a pink cloud.
Social Dreaming Note #1: Friday 24 June 2016
A watercolor illustration of three bottles labeled SDM1, SDM2, and SDM3. The blue, green, and brown bottles have cork tops. A small bicycle is drawn at the top right, seemingly attached to a pink cloud.
Social Dreaming Note: Facilitator’s Meeting
A pair of black headphones rests next to a handwritten mind map on white paper, featuring various colored boxes and lines connecting topics such as GOVERNANCE and RECORDS, with notes highlighted in yellow and green.
Fitting square pegs into round holes: why a traditional hierarchical arrangement wouldn’t work for the Tavistock Institute archive
So here’s the way we do things in the archive world: You have your boxes of papers, all messy and disorganised. Then you try and impose some order on them, trying to make sense of how the records were originally created and maintained. After a well-earned tea break (of course, a safe distance away from the original, unique documents!), you start to organise them into neat and pretty categories and form a lovely tidy hierarchy, which supposedly reflects the structure and organisation of the creating body. Or that’s the theory anyway ...
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Representation, Place, and Equivalent Realities: an Exploration of Relational Perspectives on Representation and Meaning
Izod, Karen (2016). 'Representation, Place, and Equivalent Realities: an Exploration of Relational Perspectives on Representation and Meaning', Organisational and Social Dynamics, Volume 16, Number 1, May 2016, pp. 110-128(19). Karnac Books.
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
"It’s about the history, the memory of the organisation.” - Juliet Scott
Two line graphs comparing the distribution of cake and biscuit eating by men and women in London and the South at different mealtimes in winter; peaks for cakes at teatime and biscuits at breakfast/teatime are shown.
From the Archive
A gray metal cart holds several cardboard archive boxes on two shelves. The boxes are labeled for record management by Iron Mountain, with some featuring the label "Leff’s box" and others with "Legal size, high strength.
On Institutional Memory and the Role of the Archivist
Since starting this project in October, I’ve been thinking about my role as archivist for the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR). I’ve been considering what it means to open up a previously inaccessible archive collection, and the dynamics of bringing the collection out of the storage centre and into the light. I’ve also been thinking about what we mean when we talk about archives and institutional memory, and the role that an archive plays in organisational development and as a form of socio-cultural intervention ...
A deserted, overgrown path with dried thistle plants on a cloudy day. The background features a barren landscape with a small structure and some vegetation. Streetlights line the path, and a stack of hay bales is visible in the distance.
The Tavistock Archives: An Open and Closed Case
Alice White who has recently completed PhD research using the archive writes. As the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations’ (TIHR) archives are being catalogued, ready to be opened up to new audiences, I have been thinking a lot about access to knowledge generally, and to knowledge about the TIHR’s history specifically ...
A watercolor illustration of three bottles labeled SDM1, SDM2, and SDM3. The blue, green, and brown bottles have cork tops. A small bicycle is drawn at the top right, seemingly attached to a pink cloud.
Invitation to dream about the archive: social dreaming at Wellcome Collection
Social Dreaming Matrices at the Wellcome Library Reading room - starting Friday 24th June If dreams are in part the expression of our unconscious, can we work with the archive as the unconscious of organisational life? [...]
A close-up of a typed script titled "The Scandinavians Rehearse the Liberation." Below the title is a quote from R.D. Laing discussing experience versus theory. The page also mentions a Danish psychologist with a groundbreaking idea.
From the Archive
A dirt road winds uphill, bordered by tall grass and scattered pine trees. The sky is clear and blue, casting warm light over the landscape. Purple wildflowers grow along the path.
Documenting the Archive: Film Footage, Moving Forward
This video is the second record from our series of documenting the beginnings of the archive project. It tells the enthusiastic response from our partners as they comment on the progress of the boxes whilst they were going through the final stage of work before being re homed in the Wellcome Library ...
A pencil labeled "THE TAVISTOCK" rests on a typed document discussing organizational identity and trainee development. The text mentions challenges with counter-dependence and encourages visible roles for trainees.
Healing with Words and Ideas: from past, present to future with Mannie Sher
As an advisory group member of the Archive Project, I was stimulated to think of my personal archive and how to make it available to the TIHR Archive process. After discovering some notes I had made in 1989 when I was part of a Board to which Eric Miller had been invited to consult ...
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
“Awareness is the difference between looking and seeing, and between hearing and listening.” - Rachel Kelly, on the Yoga Event at the Leicester Conference
A close-up of a typed document with the heading "The anxiety about Hair." The text discusses hair trends and experiences related to hair care and washing.
From the Archive
An old church wall with tall, arched windows overgrown with vines. The stone structure is weathered, and a small tree stands nearby. The building's tower is visible in the background against a clear sky.
An Inspirational Walk
We all know the route we take every day to work; we know what corner to turn and what road to cross. We know what line to take and what change to make as we reluctantly descend the escalators where we cram onto a literal tube filled with people we don’t know yet hate even before we see their faces. However, maybe we didn’t know that our favourite pub to go for drinks with colleagues is actually the oldest pub in town [...]
A vibrant yellow sunflower with a dark center is in full bloom, surrounded by lush green foliage. In the background, there are hints of other plants with red and purple flowers.
This Summer
A response from Karen Izod, consultant, coaching practitioner, and professional partner of the Tavistock Institute. I was fascinated to hear of these 'object relations' cards. I remember them well, they formed part of the selection process when I applied to do the clinical social work training at the Tavistock Clinic in 1983 which began what is now a long relationship with both the Clinic and the Institute. We had about 2 minutes per card to write an associative narrative to the shapes and shadows that we saw in them. The whole process took about 30 minutes [...]
A small stream flows across a sandy beach and empties into the calm ocean under a cloudy sky. The horizon is faintly visible in the distance.
Documenting the Archive: Film Footage From Up River
Abstract black and white sketch featuring rectangular shapes and lines. The composition includes a central pale rectangle framed by dark, irregular patterns, suggesting a sense of layered depth and geometric abstraction.
A set of Object Relations Cards – The Story of an Artistic Encounter with Social Science
The single most significant development of my relationship with The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations was the discovery of an area of psychological theory known as Object Relations. I don’t know when I first heard the term but it began to mean something for me when I attended a Group Relations Conference in Israel [...]
A close-up of a typewritten page discussing consumer behaviors and perceptions related to plain chocolate. The text analyzes sales contradictions and includes terms like "conversations" and "over-stated.
From the Archive
An image of colorful, vertical strips of film negatives against a gradient backdrop. The negatives have various patterns and texts, creating a visually striking arrangement.
The artistry of the archive
Launching our new blog to document the emergent TIHR archive.
A rough, hand-drawn charcoal sketch of a large "X" inside a square, both outlined with thick lines on a plain white background.
Is the Working Hypothesis in the Detail?
I have just finished reading Paura Reverenza Terrore (that can be translated as Fear Reverence Terror). It is a book of “political iconography” (as the subtitle reads) by Carlo Ginzburg, an Italian historian of ideas. The book is a collection of five essays published between 2001 and 2009 and for the first time offered to the Italian reader within one publication...
A pencil is shading over a rectangular stamp imprint that reads "SA/TIH" above "WELLCOME LIBRARY" on a piece of paper.
“Three hundred boxes?! That’s a lot isn’t it?”
“Three hundred boxes?! That’s a lot isn’t it?” Me: “Erm..yeah I guess so” “How do you even start to make sense of all that stuff?” I’ve been having a few conversations along these lines at the moment. The non-archivist I’m talking to will look puzzled as I say the key words: New job. Tavistock Institute. 300+ boxes. 2 years. Archive. Cataloguing [...]
A symmetrical, multi-story neoclassical building with a columned facade, numerous windows, and a central entrance. Trees and a street are in the foreground.
Introducing the Wellcome Element
This article describes the current role of the Wellcome Trust in the Tavistock Institute Archive Project. The partner organisation to the Tavistock Institute’s Archive Project is the Wellcome Trust, “an independent global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health, because good health makes life better”. The Trust provides annually £700 million to support bright minds in [...]
A close-up of a page with typewritten text, featuring phrases such as "make something beautiful," "find a way of life that is right," and "help other people." Ellipses are used before each phrase.
From the Archive
A rough, hand-drawn charcoal sketch of a large "X" inside a square, both outlined with thick lines on a plain white background.
What is the Blog
Working on an organisation’s archive is not just a technical venture aiming at ordering and filing documents. Working on an organisation’s archive is working on an organisation’s history, on an organisation’s identity and primary task and on how this has been shaped over time and space. Working on an organisation’s archive is working with ideas, artefacts, people, memories of people, and strong or faded memories of communities...
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Understanding and working with the psychodynamics of practitioner-patient relationships in the manual therapies
Sher, D. & Sher, M. (2015). 'Understanding and working with the psychodynamics of practitioner-patient relationships in the manual therapies'. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. Vol. 20, pp. 1-7.
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The Oedipus Complex, Creativity and the Legacies of Group Relations
Green cover of "Practice: Social Work in Action" journal, Volume 23, Number 1, February 2011. Logos of BASW and Routledge appear at the bottom. White text on abstract green background.
Practice: Social Work in Action
Elizabeth Harlow & Karen Izod (2015) 'Special Issue - The Supervision of Social Work Practice'
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Evaluation of Child Poverty Pilots: Delivering Improved Services for Separating Parents.
Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, BPSR and TNS-BMRB (2011) Evaluation of Child Poverty Pilots: Delivering Improved Services for Separating Parents. DfE.
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Relationship Support Interventions Evaluation
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Personal Relationships and Poverty: An Evidence and Policy Review
Stock, L, Corlyon, J, Castellanos Serrano, C, and Gieve, M. (2014). Personal Relationships and Poverty: An Evidence and Policy Review. JRF.
Purple book cover titled "Social Defences Against Anxiety: Explorations in a Paradigm," edited by David Armstrong and Michael Rustin. It features a black-and-white illustration of a historical scene with multiple people.
A Partnership of Policing and Health Systems: containing the dynamics of sexual violence
Sher, M. (2015). 'A Partnership of Policing and Health Systems: containing the dynamics of sexual violence'. In: D. Armstrong and M. Rustin (Eds.), Social Defences Against Anxiety: explorations in a paradigm. Tavistock Clinic series. London: Karnac Books.
Book cover for RESOURCE-FUL CONSULTING by Karen Izod and Susan Rosina Whittle, featuring abstract art of two figures in a circular embrace with words like identity and future inside the shapes.
Resource-ful Consulting: Working with your Presence and Identity in Consulting to Change
Izod, Karen & Whittle, Susan Rosina (2014). Resource-ful Consulting: Working with your Presence and Identity in Consulting to Change, London: Karnac Books.
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Barriers to inclusion and successful engagement of parents in mainstream services: evidence and research
Corlyon, J. and La Placaa, V. (2014). 'Barriers to inclusion and successful engagement of parents in mainstream services: evidence and research', Journal of Children’s Services Vol 9, 3, pp. 220-234.
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Innovation or Stagnation – Social Work Organisations as Models of Behaviour for Clients
Sher, M. (2014). 'Innovation or Stagnation – Social Work Organisations as Models of Behaviour for Clients', Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice. Vol. 9.
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Group Relations Work in China – Challenges, Risks & Impact for Organisational Development
Özdemir, H. & Sher, M. (2014). 'Group Relations Work in China – Challenges, Risks & Impact for Organisational Development', Challenging Organisations & Society. Vol. 3. No. 1. pp. 5012-517.
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Capacity Building: What the literature tells us
Whittle S., Colgan A. and Rafferty M. (2012). Capacity Building: What the literature tells us. Dublin: The Centre for Effective Services.
A digital clock hanging in a train station displays the time 13:04:53. The roof structure and metal beams are visible in the background.
A Reflective Archive
Our history in the present, the archive as organisational development.
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Evaluating politically sensitive programmes: the case of Preventing Violent Extremism (Prevent)
G. Iacopini and L. Stock. (2013) Evaluating Politically Sensitive Programmes: The Case of Preventing Violent Extremism (Prevent), British Library MBS Portal, 2013.
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Challenges Recruiting Families with Children at Risk of Anti-Social Behaviour into Intervention Trials
Stateva, M., Minton, J., Beckett, C., Doolan, M., Ford, T., Kallitsoglou, A. and Scott, S. (2012). 'Challenges Recruiting Families with Children at Risk of Anti-Social Behaviour into Intervention Trials', Journal of Children’s Services, Vol. 7 (4) pp. 285 – 302.
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Social tourism and organised capitalism: research, policy and practice
Corlyon, J. and La Placaa, V. (2013). ‘Social tourism and organised capitalism: research, policy and practice’, Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, published online: 09 Sep 2013.
A document with a header that reads, "Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-9 (India)" and dated "26th October, 1960.
Researchers watch this space
Curating a socio cultural and historical record of the Tavistock Institute’s contribution to social change.
Cover of "The Oxford Handbook of Management Theorists," edited by Morgen Witzel and Malcolm Warner. It features a close-up of a ripple effect in water, symbolizing influence and spreading ideas.
The Tavistock Group
Abraham, F. (2013). 'The Tavistock Group'. In The Oxford Handbook of Management Theorists, eds. Morgen Witzel and Malcolm Warner, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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Effecting Organisational Change in Large Complex Systems: A Collaborative Consultancy Approach
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Consulting to Organisational Implications of Technical Change
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Sociotechnology and the Environment: The Tavistocks Contribution to Job and Organisational Design
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Three Contemporary Challenges for OD Practitioners
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Personality and Work Performance: Some Evidence from Small and Medium-Sized Firms
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Dependency, Alienation or Partnership? The Changing Relationship of the Individual to the Enterprise
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The Tavistock Institute Contribution to Job and Organisational Design (Volumes 1 & 2)
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Models of Organisation: An Introduction for Social Care Professionals
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When Technological Innovation is Not Enough. Understanding the take up of Energy Technology
A hand-drawn black charcoal sketch of an envelope with a visible X across it, symbolizing a mail or message. The sketch is simple and roughly drawn on a white background.
Organisationsentwicklung: Stand der entwicklung und perspektiven
A charcoal drawing of an envelope with a large "X" crossing it diagonally. The lines are rough and textured, set against a plain white background.
Leadership in Residential Child Care: Evaluating Qualification Training
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Evaluation of the New Deal for Disabled People: Innovative Schemes Pilot
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Educating Prospective Managers in the Complexity of Organisational Life: Teaching and Learning from a Complexity Perspective
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Improving Children's Health (2): An Analysis of Health Improvement Programmes 2000-2003
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User Perspectives
Cover of the book "The Dynamics of Change" by Mannie Sher. It features an overhead view of a busy city intersection with blurred movement, suggesting motion and change. The cover's text includes the subtitle: "Tavistock Approaches to Improving Social Systems.
The Dynamics of Change: Tavistock Approaches to Improving Social Systems
Black and white photo featuring nine people in two rows, standing in pairs or alone. They are smiling against a backdrop of mirrors and plants. In the center, a logo reads "1981-2021 PARCS Grows Everybody.
PARCS Grows Everybody

An intergenerational oral history project celebrating the history and legacy of the Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Crisis Service from 1981-2021.
Boxes filled with colorful folders and documents are organized on a carpeted floor. The scene suggests office or archive materials ready for storage or sorting.
Archive

The archive project aims to celebrate and re imagine the 75-plus years work of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations by making its archival material accessible and engaging newly with it.
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Food for Thought — Lunchtime Talks

We invite you to consider yourself as part of our popular Food for Thought lunchtime talk series.

Informal sessions that take place on the third Wednesday of each month, between 1 pm – 2.30 pm in our London workspace. The intention is to provide a space for debate and reflection between Tavistock staff, those who are or have been collaborating with us and other interested researchers and practitioners.
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70 years of the Tavistock Institute

A record of events that took place as part of ‘Reimagining Human Relations in Our Time’, a festival celebrating 70 years of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, which took place in October 2017.
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