Over the past few weeks we’ve been posting a few more articles than usual, all tied to our exhibition Leodis: 400 Years of Leeds in the Leeds Libraries Collections. This post highlights local history material that explores life in Leeds since the end of the Second World War.
The main exhibition closed on November 11 this week, though many cabinets and collections items are still available to view around the City Library until the end of 2026. Contact the Heritage & Research department with any queries on heritageandresearch@leeds.gov.uk or 0113 37 86982. (Please note that the City Library is closed to all members of the public on Tuesday November 17)
DIY publishing and fanzines
Fanzines – ‘fan’ + ‘magazine’ – have been a vital part of the Leeds cultural scene since at least the 1950s and the publication of the science fiction zine Ploy.
Later, the DIY format of fanzines lent itself to the independent music scene. Some of the key Leeds titles included New Pose, Ablaze, the city’s first punk zine, and Herb Garden.
Football fans used fanzines in the 1980s to campaign for a better matchday experience, including, in Leeds, the anti-racist movement led by Marching Altogether.
Trailblazing Stories zine (2018)
Trailblazing Stories was created by zine maker Kirsty Fife in collaboration with older people’s LGBT network Sage and the West Yorkshire Queer Stories project. The zine brings together LGBTIQ+ voices from older and younger generations of the community to share their histories and
experiences that are often overlooked.
In the zine you can read individual stories accompanied by sketches of the participants.
Shout! (February 1996-April 1996)
A free listings paper specifically aimed at West Yorkshire’s lesbian, gay and bisexual community. The listings consist of dates for events and meetups, club nights, personal ads and news stories from the West Yorkshire area.
The paper was co-founded and edited by Mark Michalowski after completing a teaching qualification at Leeds Metropolitan University.
Leeds ephemera and events leaflets (2016-present)
In 50 years’ time the people of Leeds might want to know what we were up to in 2016, 2024 and 2026 – just as we’re fascinated by the past now. We regularly collect events listing and business leaflets from venues and events around Leeds like, theatre shows, gigs and concerts, children’s workshops, comedy shows, and everything in between. Businesses, people and venues change rapidly so we collect everyday (and special) ephemera from our city to keep the present preserved when it becomes the past!
Itchy Leeds: The Insider’s Guide
Published for cities across the UK, the Itchy Guides were popular entertainment guides covering the top places to eat, drink, dance, shop and stay, alongside a dedicated LGBT+ section.
The City Library holds editions of the Itchy guides from 2001 to 2007. These provide a fascinating snapshot of Leeds in the recent past, showcasing many venues and businesses that have since disappeared from the city’s landscape.
Collection of gig tickets
In 2023, Leeds Libraries started collecting digital copies of local gig tickets, creating a growing archive of the city’s musical past.
Hosted on the Leodis photographic archive (www.leodis.net), the collection helps tell the story of Leeds’ rich and diverse music scene, and the people who have shaped it over the years.
The Duchess of York
Legendary live music venue The Duchess of York stood on Vicar Lane. Originally the Robin Hood public house, it was transformed into The Duchess in 1985 and quickly became one of Leeds’ most influential music venues, hosting live performances every evening. Iconic bands including Nirvana, Radiohead, Oasis and Coldplay all played there during their rise to fame. The venue closed in 2000.
In 2024, Leeds Civic Trust unveiled a blue plaque to celebrate its lasting contribution to Leeds’ rich musical heritage.
