64 Baker Street uses historical photographs, archival documents, maps, illustrations, museum objects, and other visual material to help explain the people, operations, places, and material culture of the Special Operations Executive (SOE).
We believe historical images should be treated as sources, not merely decoration.
Wherever practical, we aim to identify the origin of an image, preserve its historical context, provide appropriate attribution, and respect the copyright, licensing, and reproduction conditions that apply to it.
This page explains our approach to images used throughout 64 Baker Street.
Our Image Sources
Images appearing on 64 Baker Street may come from a variety of sources, including:
- national archives;
- museums;
- military collections;
- government collections;
- university archives;
- libraries;
- historical societies;
- openly licensed repositories;
- public-domain collections;
- private collections used with permission;
- photographs or graphics created specifically for this project.
Important institutional sources relevant to SOE research include The National Archives, Imperial War Museums, and other archival and museum collections in Britain and the countries where SOE operated.
Use of material from any institution does not imply that the institution sponsors, endorses, or is affiliated with 64 Baker Street.
Image Credits on Individual Pages
Whenever practical, an image credit should appear:
- beneath the image;
- within the image caption;
- in an image-credit section;
- or in accompanying metadata.
A credit may include:
Creator or photographer
Subject or image title
Date
Archive or collection
Catalogue or object reference
Copyright holder
Licence or reuse status
Not every historical photograph has complete information.
When a photographer, date, location, or rights holder is unknown, we prefer to say so rather than invent missing details.
Archival References
For archival images, we aim to include the catalogue or collection reference whenever it is known.
This is particularly useful because it allows readers and researchers to locate the underlying source independently.
The National Archives requires acknowledgement of the archive and relevant document references when material from its collections is reproduced. It also distinguishes between the general reuse of Crown-copyright information and the separate conditions that can apply to reproductions of documents and images.
A typical credit might therefore take a form such as:
The National Archives, HS 9/[reference].
or:
Imperial War Museums, [object number].
The exact wording depends on the attribution requirements of the institution or rights holder.
The National Archives
Material held by The National Archives can have different copyright and reuse conditions depending on the record.
Much of the textual Crown-copyright information on The National Archives website is available under the Open Government Licence, but this does not automatically mean that every scanned document or image can be freely republished online.
The National Archives specifically notes that images downloaded from Discovery, material from its Image Library, and third-party copyrighted works may be subject to separate reproduction restrictions. Publication of reproductions of Crown-copyright records, including on websites, can require permission from its Image Library.
For this reason, we do not assume that:
“available online” means “free to republish.”
Where we reproduce imagery associated with The National Archives, we aim to follow the licence or permission terms applicable to that particular image.
Imperial War Museums
Imperial War Museums holds photographs, films, sound recordings, documents, objects, weapons, uniforms, and other material relevant to SOE history.
Some IWM collection material is specifically made available for reuse under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence. Material covered by that licence can be identified through IWM’s collection search and its “Share and Reuse” information.
The licence requires appropriate attribution and places conditions on reuse, including restrictions against misleading use, unauthorized commercial exploitation, and alterations that change the meaning of the original material.
Other IWM material may have different copyright or licensing conditions.
We therefore evaluate the rights information attached to the individual collection item rather than assuming one rule applies to the entire IWM collection.
Public Domain Images
Some historical images are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions.
Where this can reasonably be established, we may use the image while still identifying its source whenever possible.
Public-domain status does not eliminate the value of attribution.
An image may be legally free to reuse while its archive reference, photographer, date, and historical context remain important information for researchers.
We therefore aim to credit public-domain material even where attribution is not legally required.
“No Known Copyright Restrictions”
The phrase “no known copyright restrictions” is not always identical to a legal declaration that an image is unquestionably free of every possible right.
For example, The National Archives explains that certain images it has released through public platforms may carry a “no known copyright restrictions” statement because the archive is unaware of current copyright restrictions, while noting that other rights may still apply.
64 Baker Street treats such labels according to the terms supplied by the originating institution.
Creative Commons Material
Where an image is distributed under a Creative Commons licence, we follow the conditions of that licence.
Depending on the licence, this may require:
- creator attribution;
- identification of the licence;
- a link to the licence;
- indication of modifications;
- restrictions on commercial use;
- restrictions on derivative works;
- sharing adaptations under the same licence.
We do not treat all Creative Commons licences as interchangeable.
For example, a work licensed for unrestricted reuse under CC BY has different conditions from one licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.
The licence attached to the specific image controls how it may be used.
Copyrighted Images
Some historically significant photographs remain protected by copyright.
Where necessary, 64 Baker Street may:
- obtain permission;
- use an appropriately licensed reproduction;
- link to the collection record instead of reproducing the image;
- or omit the image entirely.
The National Archives notes that material held in archival collections can remain copyrighted regardless of age and that responsibility for obtaining necessary permission can fall on the person reproducing the work.
Historical importance alone does not automatically eliminate copyright.
Third-Party Copyright
Archives frequently hold material for which they are not the copyright owner.
A museum or archive may physically preserve a photograph without owning the intellectual-property rights in that photograph.
The National Archives explicitly distinguishes Crown copyright from third-party copyright and states that permission for third-party material must be obtained from the relevant rights holder where required.
64 Baker Street therefore distinguishes between:
the institution that holds an image
and
the person or organization that owns copyright in it.
They are not necessarily the same.
Fair Dealing and Other Legal Exceptions
In limited circumstances, copyrighted visual material may be used under applicable legal exceptions, such as quotation, criticism, review, reporting, research, or other forms of fair dealing.
Whether an exception applies depends on the circumstances, including the purpose of use, amount used, availability of alternatives, attribution, and effect on the rights holder.
64 Baker Street does not assume that every educational or historical use automatically qualifies.
Where possible, we prefer clearly licensed, permission-based, or public-domain material.
Historical Documents
Scans of archival documents present a particular issue.
The historical information within a document and the photographic or digital reproduction of that document can have different legal conditions.
For example, The National Archives permits extensive reuse of certain Crown-copyright textual information under the Open Government Licence while applying separate conditions to publication of images or reproductions of records.
Where appropriate, 64 Baker Street may therefore:
- quote or transcribe relevant text;
- cite the archival reference;
- link to the catalogue record;
without necessarily reproducing the full scanned document.
Maps
Maps used by 64 Baker Street may include:
- historical maps;
- archival maps;
- public-domain maps;
- modern maps produced specifically for the site;
- reconstructed operational maps based on historical sources.
Every reasonable effort is made to distinguish original historical maps from modern reconstructions.
A reconstructed map should not be presented in a way that suggests it is an original wartime document.
Where the location of an operation, drop zone, safe house, or route is approximate, the map should indicate that uncertainty.
Image Identification
Historical photographs are sometimes misidentified.
The same photograph may circulate online with different names, dates, or captions.
We therefore prefer institutional catalogue information and reliable archival evidence when identifying:
- individuals;
- locations;
- aircraft;
- weapons;
- buildings;
- operations;
- resistance groups.
If an identification is uncertain, the caption may use wording such as:
believed to show,
possibly,
tentatively identified as,
or
identity unconfirmed.
We do not convert uncertainty into certainty simply because a photograph has been repeatedly reposted online.
Alteration and Restoration
Historical images may occasionally be:
- cropped;
- resized;
- adjusted for readability;
- cleaned of scanning artifacts;
- restored;
- color-corrected;
- or otherwise prepared for web presentation.
Material alterations should not change the historical meaning of an image.
Where a significant reconstruction, colorization, compositing, or artificial modification has been made, it should be clearly identified.
We do not present heavily altered or artificially reconstructed images as untouched archival originals.
Colorized Historical Images
Colorized photographs can help some readers engage with historical subjects, but colorization introduces interpretation.
Unless based on documented evidence, colors used for clothing, objects, surroundings, or equipment may be speculative.
When a historical photograph has been colorized, the image should therefore be identified as:
Colorized
or
Digitally colorized from the original photograph
where appropriate.
The original monochrome image remains the primary historical source.
AI-Generated Images
Artificially generated images are not archival evidence.
If 64 Baker Street uses an AI-generated illustration, reconstruction, or conceptual image, it should not be presented as an authentic photograph of an SOE agent, mission, location, or historical event.
Where there is a realistic possibility that readers could mistake generated imagery for historical evidence, we aim to label it clearly.
AI-generated visual material should generally be used for illustration rather than evidentiary purposes.
Website Graphics and Original Illustrations
Some maps, diagrams, timelines, infographics, logos, or illustrations may be created specifically for 64 Baker Street.
Unless otherwise stated, these materials are original project graphics and should not be assumed to come from a historical archive.
Where such graphics rely on historical data, the underlying sources should be identified where practical.
Image Captions Are Editorial Content
An image may be authentic while its caption is wrong.
Captions are therefore treated as editorial statements that require verification.
If we discover that a person, date, location, operation, or object has been incorrectly identified, we will correct the caption according to our Corrections Policy.
An incorrect caption should not be preserved simply because it has already been widely repeated.
Images From Earlier Versions of 64-baker-street.org
The historical existence of an image on an earlier version of this website does not automatically establish that the present project owns the copyright or has permission to republish it.
Where images associated with older versions of 64-baker-street.org are recovered through web archives or external references, we aim to identify their original source and rights status before republishing them.
If those rights cannot be established, we may preserve the historical reference without reproducing the image itself.
Web Archives
An archived website can establish that an image appeared online at a particular time.
It does not necessarily establish ownership or permission to reuse that image today.
The UK Government Web Archive similarly notes that archived sites may include third-party material whose reuse rights differ from the Crown-copyright material surrounding it.
We therefore treat web archives as evidence of historical publication, not automatically as an image-licensing source.
Private and Family Collections
We welcome historical photographs and documents supplied by families, researchers, veterans’ organizations, and private collectors.
Before publication, we may seek clarification about:
- provenance;
- photographer;
- approximate date;
- people depicted;
- ownership;
- reproduction permission;
- preferred credit.
Where permission is limited to 64 Baker Street, that does not imply the image may be freely reused by others.
The credit will reflect the conditions supplied by the contributor where practical.
Rights-Holder Requests
We make reasonable efforts to identify copyright ownership and comply with applicable licensing terms.
Because historical material can have complex provenance, errors may occasionally occur.
If you believe that an image on 64 Baker Street:
- belongs to you;
- has been incorrectly attributed;
- is being used under an incorrect licence;
- requires additional credit;
- should not be reproduced;
- or contains inaccurate rights information,
please contact us.
Include, where possible:
- the URL of the page;
- a description of the image;
- your relationship to the image or rights holder;
- the correction or action requested;
- supporting ownership or licensing information where relevant.
Legitimate rights concerns will be reviewed.
Possible actions may include:
- correcting attribution;
- updating licence information;
- replacing the image;
- removing the image;
- linking to the original collection instead.
Corrections to Image Credits
Image credits can change as better information becomes available.
An archive may identify a previously unknown photographer. A photograph may be re-dated. A subject may be correctly identified. Copyright may expire. A collection may provide revised attribution.
Imperial War Museums notes that access to and interpretation of its collections can evolve as research progresses and restrictions change.
We therefore treat image credits as research information that may be updated rather than as permanently fixed metadata.
Credit Does Not Imply Endorsement
Crediting an archive, museum, photographer, collection, or rights holder does not imply that they endorse 64 Baker Street.
Likewise, the appearance of a collection’s name on this website does not establish a formal partnership.
Credits exist to identify sources and rights appropriately.
Our Standard
Historical images can convey information that words alone cannot.
They can show the faces of agents, the appearance of equipment, the geography of operations, the buildings in which organizations worked, and the physical records through which history survives.
But their power makes accurate sourcing especially important.
64 Baker Street aims to follow a simple standard:
Identify the image. Preserve its context. Credit its source. Respect its rights. State uncertainty when necessary. Correct mistakes when better evidence appears.
Where an image cannot responsibly be reproduced, we would rather cite or link to the original collection than use it without adequate provenance or permission.