Archives in Action - 20,000 Women
Our 20,000 Women Zine Project aims to help redress the historic imbalance of women’s stories in the archives. We’re inviting people to share stories of women and girls living in Cheshire in 2026, in the form of zines.
With permission, the zines will become a special collection held within the archives, preserving women and girls' experiences of life in Cheshire in 2026. A selection of zines will go on display at the new archive centres in Chester and Crewe in 2027.
What is a zine?
A zine, pronounced zeen, is a small publication you make yourself. There aren't lots of rules.
You could draw, write, collage, take photographs, use textile or, make something digitally.
It can be carefully designed or wonderfully messy.
What could my zine be about?
Your zine could be about almost anything that tells us something about the life of a woman or girl from Cheshire (Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester).
You might share ambitions, a journey, favourite things, a day in the life or hopes for the future. There is no single way to tell your story.
How can I take part?
There are lots of resources to help you make a zine:
Zine Film
A 4 minute 35 second film explaining the project, how to make a zine and submit it to the archive.
Digital Zine maker
If you prefer to work digitally – this accessible zine maker was developed with Vision Support and supports voice to text and screen readers.
You don’t need to print anything out, it can all be done online, on your phone, tablet or desktop, then emailed to us!
Digital Zine maker
Some useful prompts!
Submission Form
We need anyone sending a zine to the archive to send it with a submission form so we have your permission to use it. This form also includes a Privacy Notice, so you can see how your data is used and stored.
Group Submission Form
This group submission form is for group leader to submit a group’s zines e.g. schools, guides etc.
Find a Zine Station
Ten Zine Stations have been created for museums and libraries across Cheshire East and Cheshire West. Each contains instructions and materials so you can make a zine yourself and return it when you've finished.
To find out where they are in 2026 please email RecordOffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk or check Instagram page @cheshire_archives_women
Take part at school
Accessible resources have also been developed for primary and secondary schools.
Please email RecordOffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk for the full pack with FAQs, example letter to parents etc
