Serena Wadham - Photojournalist Rediscovered

Activist. Feminist. Trailblazer. 

Serena Wadham (1930–2006) was a pioneering photojournalist who documented Britain's defining social movements — feminist activism, peace protests, working-class life, famous artists and ordinary people. Although seven of her portraits are held at the National Portrait Gallery, her work remains virtually unknown, locked away from the communities she documented.

Serena's prolific career in London took her on assignments to capture the varied social change of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s: anti-Vietnam protests, high-profile feminist campaigns, and street photography capturing working-class Islington and immigrant communities. Serena retired in Nancledra, Cornwall and continued documenting her surroundings: landscapes, neighbours and farming. 

Over three-years, this new collaborative photography archive project across London and Cornwall will digitise, interpret and share Serena's outstanding collection of images through workshops, talks, exhibitions, film and book.

In partnership with Lesley Billingham, Barbara Santi of awen productions, Josie Goddard and The Morrab Library.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Myner Trust.

All photographs copyright The Morrab Library.

To view more photographs in the collection visit https://photoarchive.morrablibrary.org.uk/exhibits/show/serena-wadham