About the archive
Preserving the past, inspiring the future
The story behind the vintage advertising archive
Nestled in the heart of Stockport lies a treasure trove of advertising history – the Richard Roberts Archive. This remarkable institution was born from the passion and dedication of Richard Roberts, an enthusiastic collector with an insatiable curiosity for the stories behind the ads that shaped our world.
For over two decades, Richard has meticulously curated a one-of-a-kind vintage advertising archive, driven by the belief that these print ads serve as captivating snapshots of change throughout the ages. What started as a private collection soon blossomed into an extensive magazine archive, housing a wealth of print advertisements spanning centuries.
Each piece within our vintage advertising archive offers a unique window into the past, providing researchers and enthusiasts with an opportunity to explore the changing fashions, speech patterns, and cultural norms that these advertisements so vividly captured.
From working-class newspapers to high-society magazines, our advertisement archive embraces the diversity of intended audiences, revealing the intricate tapestry of social dynamics woven into the fabric of advertising narratives. Whether it's a glamorous fashion illustration from the Roaring Twenties or a bold, pioneering automobile advertisement promising power and performance, our advert archive preserves these precious moments in time, ensuring that their stories continue to resonate with future generations.
At the core of our mission is a commitment to public access and preservation.
The value of this remarkable archive extends far beyond mere nostalgia or artistic appreciation.
We strive to connect researchers with the fascinating history of daily life and industries, as told through the lens of advertising. Through public presentations, ongoing digitization efforts, and a dedicated team of experts, we aim to make this invaluable resource accessible to all, encouraging exploration and igniting a passion for the art and storytelling that defined the golden age of print advertising.
Our commitment to preservation extends beyond the printed page. We meticulously maintain each piece in our magazine archive, ensuring that these advertisements remain in their original context, surrounded by the editorial articles, opinion pieces, and social commentaries that once graced the same pages. This holistic approach allows researchers to fully immerse themselves in the zeitgeist of the era, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the cultural landscape that shaped these captivating advertisements.
Join us on this remarkable journey through time, where the essence of advertising history comes alive with every turn of the page, every striking illustration, and every captivating narrative. Together, we can preserve this invaluable cultural legacy and ensure that the art of vintage print advertising continues to fascinate and inspire audiences for generations to come.
Our values
Social history
We aim to preserve, and make available for research, print advertising of any products, in any language and from any period.
The text and images of advertising serve to document changing fashions in everything from speech, clothing, food and transport to entire companies or industries.
The chosen media is also vital to the understanding the intended social audience, from working-class newspapers to society magazines.
Public access
Through the Archive collection we aim to connect with researchers to reveal the fascinating history of daily life and industries through advertising.
We currently provide public presentations using materials housed at the Archive and are working hard to catalogue and digitise the collection for easier access.
Through this we encourage the public to carry out research with the Archive and to spread the word about our collection.
Preservation
Our collection policy is the saving and preserving of print publications from all periods that include advertising.
Our acquisition criteria are broader than simply magazines and newspapers. We consider programmes, brochures and catalogues, commemorative books, leaflets and flyers to be equally important.
We aim to acquire complete publications that retain the advertisement’s context.