What’s On in August: Ancestry and the National Portrait Gallery launch ‘The Nation’s Family Album’

Ancestry®, the global leader in family history, and the National Portrait Gallery, are thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated display, The Nation’s Family Album this August. The collection celebrates the richness and diversity of family stories across Britain through the years. The Nation’s Family Album is open to the public for free from 10th August 2023 and features a selection of Britain’s most cherished images and stories, with four highlighted portraits on display. An additional 100 portraits, shortlisted as part of the selection process, will be highlighted digitally in the Gallery.
Following over 2,200 submissions by the British public last year, an esteemed panel* selected four images and backstories to be exhibited at the iconic National Portrait Gallery. The four portraits were selected for their encapsulation of the key themes of The Nation’s Family Album: belonging, connection, legacy and identity. Rotimi Odukoya, David Abbott, Stephen Illffe and Ian George McLean’s photographs each hold a story unbeknown to the naked eye.

Simon Pearce, Family History Expert at Ancestry and member of the judging panel says: “Photographs are a valuable source for family history as they provide a snapshot into the everyday lives and events of our families and ancestors. When a caption or backstory accompanies a photo, it can be incredibly revealing and invaluable for future generations. This is why we are thrilled to have partnered with the National Portrait Gallery for this initiative. Viewing these images, and understanding the unique stories behind them, is a truly moving experience. The hope is that the display will be a catalyst for families to capture and store their dearest moments for the future.”

Dr Alison Smith, Chief Curator at National Portrait Gallery and member of the judging panel says: “The National Portrait Gallery is home to some of the world’s most famous faces, but nothing feels more rewarding than being able to display and explore the history of Britain’s everyday people. Following the initial launch of the National Portrait Gallery’s 1547 – 2018 collection of paintings, photographs and prints on Ancestry, we are now looking forward to showcasing the stories of various communities throughout the UK as part of The Nation’s Family Album, on display this August.”
Ancestry encourages all Brits to capture and document their lives, with no moment too small. Using Ancestry’s Storymaker Studio, families can now store photographs, audio recordings and more in one place, preserving life stories for generations to come.

The display at the National Portrait Gallery will be available to view for free from 10th August – 10th September 2023 in its newly refurbished Spotlight Space, where culture lovers and history buffs alike can delve into some of the nation’s most heartwarming stories. The images and stories featured at the Gallery, alongside all the shortlisted images, will be available to view in a permanent online collection amongst over 40 billion records on Ancestry later this year.

*Simon Pearce (Family History Expert at Ancestry), Dr Alison Smith, (Chief Curator at the National Portrait Gallery), Millie Pilkinton, (Royal Photographer) and Peter Braithwaite (renowned for his series of photographs, Rediscovering Black Portraiture).