Blood

The objects here represent blood in a variety of ways. Some represent the recruitment of members of the British public to become blood donors through public health material. The posters demonstrate various techniques used by the Ministry of Health to encourage people to donate blood. This campaign really took off during the Second World War by encouraging members of the public to ‘do their bit’, whereas later posters showcased how many people were helping those in need of a transfusion, almost creating a hierarchy between donors and non-donors. Other posters show the physical medical process a volunteer undergoes to donate blood, whilst also showcasing information they receive post-donation.

Other objects in the collection highlight the process of blood donation and transfusion, from direct person-to-person transfusions to more modern apparatus designed to improve the process of transfusion itself. Some of these objects were showcased in the 2025 exhibition ‘Blood: Ties and Tensions’.

These objects have been selected and researched by Sarah Chadwick, PhD Researcher, as part of a Collaborative Doctoral Award with the Thackray Museum of Medicine.