Popular newspapers have played a central role in shaping public understandings of the nationTabloid century: the popular press in Britain, 1896 to the present (2015).
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Established in 1900 and in circulation until 1964, The Sphere remained under the ownership of The Illustrated London News (ILN) for most of its existence. Clement Shorter—a former editor of the ILN—founded the publication. From its first issue, it adopted a consciously international outlook, aiming to "hold pictures and thoughts from all lands". Upon its release, it was praised as "a striking advance in illustrated journalism" due to the beauty and artistry of its presentation. It soon became popular. This collection includes nearly 160,000 images and almost 4,000 issues from The Sphere, published between January 1900 and June 1964.
The Sphere reflected a patriotic and staunchly pro-establishment position, expressing support for the British monarchy and for the empire. The publication reported extensively on world events, such as the rise of communism, the First and Second World Wars, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. It printed articles discussing a wide range of prominent personalities from the arts, sciences, and politics—from John Ruskin to Albert Einstein; from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Golda Meir. It also featured contributions from well-known literary figures, such as the acclaimed children’s author, A. A. Milne, and the prolific journalist, Charles Graves. This collection contains vital material for researchers and students of British society, military history, and the legacies of colonialism.
"The centre of The Sphere will be in London, but its surface will hold pictures and thoughts from all lands." The Sphere, 27 January 1900
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5 May 1928:
Putting into stark relief the exploitative nature of British colonialism in Kenya, this article (image 3) illustrates the aloof, patrician attitude towards the indigenous peoples that was adopted by wealthy settlers. It likewise portrays, in candid detail, the insulated lives of the colonial elite.
5 November 1932:
Covering a “Hunger March” and an “oyster feast”, respectively, this article (image 6) encapsulates the rampant inequality within British society in the 1930s. It also evidences the hostile attitude that the country’s establishment adopted towards working-class movements.
20 May 1944:
Published shortly before the Allied invasion of Western Europe in June 1944 – a turning point in the Second World War – these “striking photographs” (images 18 and 19) reveal the considerable impact of British and American air raids on German military targets in France.
4 October 1947:
Written towards the end of the British Mandate for Palestine, this article (image 28) provides valuable insights into the complex political tensions that manifested in the months preceding the creation of the State of Israel and the subsequent outbreak of the First Arab-Israeli War.
Clement Shorter established The Sphere in 1900 after relinquishing his editorship at the ILN. In response, the ILN set up a rival publication called The Spear, choosing a similar title in the hope of poaching Shorter’s new readership. Despite this, The Sphere proved popular and Shorter went on to establish several of the ILN’s "sister" publications, including The Tatler and The Sketch.
The Sphere maintained a conservative and deeply patriotic worldview. For example, in its first issue, published in January 1900, the editors declared that "The Sphere stands for England, the Mother of Parliaments, the Giver of Free Institutions to half the World…" In the 1920s the paper began to refer to itself explicitly as "The Empire’s Illustrated Weekly".
The Sphere often adopted a hostile attitude towards working-class movements. In the process, it (perhaps inadvertently) reflected the profound inequalities prevalent in contemporary Britain. In its coverage of the National Hunger March in November 1932, for example, the paper claimed that mounted police were "invaluable, as instruments both of control and attack". Notably, the same piece reported on Prince Arthur of Connaught’s attendance at a recent "oyster feast".
With the outbreak of the Second World War The Sphere dedicated much of its attention to the evolution and deployment of military technology. Articles about weaponry, including planes, submarines, and warships, began to appear regularly. In addition, the paper published detailed updates from the European, Pacific, and African fronts of the Second World War, thus keeping its readers informed about the latest developments in the Allied campaigns.
Covering nearly seven decades, from the turn of the twentieth century until the "Swinging Sixties", The Sphere offers a wide selection of material with great potential to be highly useful material for those studying the development of British manufacturing and consumerism during this period, with adverts for a range of familiar brands, such as Rolls-Royce, Rowntree’s, and McVitie’s.
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