Events

Cipher used by SOE agent George Hiller while in Occupied France, c1944.

The History Department in collaboration with Library Heritage and Culture at the University of Sussex present ‘Decoding Resistance’, an exhibition of items from the Archive of Resistance Testimony at The Keep.

Volunteer student curators from all year groups and History courses have been exploring two recent document donations to the Archive, part of the University’s Heritage Collections. The George Hiller Collection draws together material relating to his time as a British Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent coordinating grassroots resistance in wartime France.

The Sadie Forman Collection chronicles her life as an African National Congress (ANC) activist in exile living in Brighton, engaged in the anti-apartheid struggle and other causes for freedom and justice.

Guided by members of the Heritage Collections team, students have developed the exhibition story, chosen items for display from both collections, and written explanatory text. The exhibition explores how the theme of resistance can be used to both decode an individual historical document, and the wider context of an individual's life.

Supported by funding from the Sussex Resistance Studies Network, and the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities.

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Also occurs on

• Wednesday 6 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Thursday 7 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Saturday 9 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Sunday 10 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Monday 11 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Tuesday 12 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Wednesday 13 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Thursday 14 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Friday 15 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Saturday 16 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Sunday 17 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Monday 18 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Tuesday 19 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Wednesday 20 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Thursday 21 May, 2026 at 11:00
• Friday 22 May, 2026 at 11:00

Posted on behalf of: Kevin Bacon, Head of Heritage Collections & Mass Observation Archive
Last updated: Tuesday, 31 March 2026