James Travers

James Travers
  • Position: Cultural Property Manager
  • Specialism: Cultural property, Literary history
  • James.Travers@nationalarchives.gov.uk

James Travers is Cultural Property Manager at The National Archives and leads expert advice to government, grant-awarding bodies and the archives sector on archives as cultural property. This includes advice on tax incentives, purchase grants, the controls of the movement and sale of archives, as well as the UK market in manuscripts. He is leading a research project to review how the impact of digital may affect current arrangements to secure and retain significant archives in this country. He is also currently involved in a consultant-led project, supported by The National Archives’ Strategic Research Fund, to assess changes in the funding landscape for archives over the last ten years and the impact of TNA’s advice and funding streams.

James read English Language and Literature at Brasenose College, Oxford and his thesis explored ‘Epistemology and Styles of Thought in the Works of Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682).’ He specialises in literary sources in archives and is a writer of popular history books based on archival sources.

He has published two books focusing on Early Modern sources and their language, which have led to numerous media appearances. His latest book ‘A Blackmailer at Frogmore: The Adventures of Queen Caroline’s Ghost’ was published by Amberley in January 2022.

Select publications

J Travers, James I: The Masque of Monarchy (Kew, 2003)

J Travers, Gunpowder: The Players Behind the Plot (Kew, 2005)

J Travers, The Gunpowder Plot: Terror in Shakespeare’s England (Stroud, 2019)

J Travers, A Blackmailer at Frogmore: The Adventures of Queen Caroline’s Ghost (Stroud, 2022)