The Young V&A Archives (formerly the Museum of Childhood Archives) includes a major collection of archives from toy and children’s clothing manufacturers, and from individuals involved in the toy industry. It also preserves papers documenting the history of childhood, schooling and play, donated to the Museum by both researchers and private individuals.
The archive currently contains 53 collections which can vary in size from one file (see MOC/FISH) to 968 files which comprises our collection relating to Toy Manufacturers (MOC/MATO). The strength of the archive collection is in its diversity and is continuing to grow.
Particularly note should be made of our collection relating to Donne Buck which contains within it a fascinating history of Adventure Playgrounds (MOC/BUCK), the records of Lines Bros (MOC/LINE) who were famous for their Tri-ang trademark and which show the extent and strength of the toy making industry in Britain at one time. The archive also contains collections relating to Children's Clothing Manufacturers (MOC/MACL) and of course the shops we all enjoyed, toy shops, can be found within our Toy Distributors collection (MOC/DIST).
Many of the collections do not however relate to large companies but to individuals and their childhood. This is what the archive attempts to do, to capture and record childhood culture for the future and to make this available to everyone.