About TREE

Who We Are

The Trust for Records of Enslavement and Emancipation (TREE) is a heritage and education charity preserving rare documents from the British colonial era. Our mission is to ensure the names, lives, and legacies of enslaved people are not forgotten.

We hold a unique, privately-sourced archive that is being digitised, transcribed, and made available for public and academic use.

Our Story

TREE began with a family archive passed down through generations. Founder Matt Johnston and his daughter Sunday knew these documents needed to be more than historical curiosities - they needed to be shared.

What started as a personal journey has become a national foundation committed to transparency, education, and ethical storytelling.

Our Vision

To create one of the UK's leading archives of enslavement and emancipation, supporting:

  • Curriculum-ready education packs

  • Public exhibitions

  • Community-led research

  • Digital access to rare documents

Two people, one woman and one man, looking at a framed document displayed on an easel in a warmly lit room with wooden walls and a table lamp.
A man in a plaid blazer looking at an illuminated display of old newspapers mounted on a wooden board at an art exhibit.
A magnifying glass placed on a document with a logo of a TREE, with a tree growing from it, and text around it that reads 'Records of Enslavement and Emancipation' and 'Branching into education'.
A framed display case containing an old newspaper with a sign labeled 'ARTINA' on top.
A man with a beard, wearing a suit jacket and holding papers, standing in front of a banner at a formal event. The background includes a large mirror with two women reflected in it.
A group of people at an event with a large banner that reads "Trust for Records of Enslavement and Emancipation" in front of a portrait of a woman and a child, with a dog.
A wooden easel displays a printed poster titled 'Artifact Explainer,' discussing the appraisal of the Culloden Estate from April 15, 1817. The poster highlights the importance of the document, includes an excerpt in a handwritten style, and provides
Three people looking at display boards at an exhibition or museum.
Brochure titled 'Tree Education Pack KS3,' focusing on British slavery history and primary sources, placed on a blue surface.
Group of men engaged in conversation at an indoor event, with a banner and framed artwork in the background.
A woman playing the cello while two other musicians are in the background, one playing a keyboard.
A man in glasses and a dark jacket reading historical documents displayed on an easel in a dimly lit room with ornate wooden paneling.
Two people reviewing documents at a table with various papers and folders, in a room with wood and stone walls.

Our Purpose

TREE exists to turn history into understanding. By preserving and sharing original records of enslavement and emancipation, we create opportunities for learning, reflection, and change.

These documents speak to issues that remain relevant today, including justice, identity, and memory. Through education, collaboration, and open access, TREE ensures that the stories once silenced are heard, respected, and remembered.

How We Work

TREE’s approach is built on credibility, care, and collaboration, values that have already earned recognition for helping to reframe the language and interpretive frameworks of national broadcasters and heritage organisations.

  • Our work combines archival precision with modern inclusion, ensuring that each name, place, and event is presented with historical accuracy and contemporary awareness.

    We collaborate with historians, educators, and heritage partners to maintain rigorous transcription, annotation, and conservation standards.

  • Every project begins with the original record: documents, newspapers, and correspondence from Britain’s slavery and emancipation era, examined and interpreted through an evidence-led process.

  • TREE believes that authority comes from responsible custodianship and transparency.

    By grounding all outputs, from exhibitions to education packs, in verifiable sources, we create work that invites learning, reflection, and informed debate.

  • Our purpose is not to speak over history but to give the records the clarity and context they deserve, allowing others to engage with them openly and responsibly.

Supporters of TREE

Feedback and reflections from those who’ve supported TREE’s mission to connect history, education, and community.

S Meader
Visitor Experience Manager, National Trust, Dyrham Park

“Matt was meticulous and professional throughout TREE’s launch at Dyrham Park - balancing care, adaptability, and integrity when presenting sensitive historical material.”

“The TREE exhibit was calm, poignant, and deeply resonant - a thoughtful space at a time when conversations about race and identity can feel polarised. It was a privilege to be part of it, and I look forward to continuing the connection.”

Director
Private Sector Supporter

“A powerful and moving event - the start of something genuinely special and important. TREE’s launch created space for reflection and pride in equal measure.”

TREE Partner
Corporate Supporter

“It was an honour to be commissioned to frame original documents from TREE’s archive. Sometimes we handle items that stop us for a long moment, truly shocking reminders that not that long ago individuals held such power as to reduce human lives to commodity value.

Attending the launch of the TREE Foundation at Dyrham Park was a privilege. The choice of venue, a National Trust property created by William Blathwayt, was deeply symbolic, connecting Britain’s architectural legacy with its colonial past. It is a credit to the National Trust that these histories are now being discussed openly, because transparent and honest reading of our past must surely lead to a more inclusive future.”

TREE Partner Right Angle Picture Framing

“Congratulations to Matt on such a wonderful, thought provoking exhibition.”

TREE Partner - Corsham Print
Business Manager