The publication of primary record sources, such as calendars of Inquisitions Post-Mortem and transcripts of State Papers Domestic, began in the early 19th century. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Public Record Office had helped to transform the very nature of historical study by publishing key series, notably the medieval Patent, Charter and Close Rolls and the early modern State Papers, Domestic, Foreign and Colonial. For most purposes, these texts were intended to replace the need to consult the original documents.

The end-result has been one of the finest and most accessible collections of public records in print for the medieval and early modern period that can be found in the world. These texts help open up our records to all researchers, some of whom may not have the linguistic and palaeographical skills necessary to read the originals.

We also publish guides and handbooks on how to research particular record series. Official publications in volume form are listed in main official publications of the public records.

The National Archives welcomes ideas for academic publications and for partnerships in this area. Current projects include:

• An ESRC funded guide to sources for medieval Irish history in The National Archives in conjunction with the University of Bristol
• An AHRB funded guide to naval records in The National Archives with the University of Exeter
• Continuation of the calendars of fifteenth-century inquisitions post-mortem with the University of Cambridge, funded by the AHRB
• Digitising the Calendars of State Papers Domestic - a joint bid by The Institute of Historical Research and The National Archives
• A 21st Century edition of the Medieval Parliament Rolls - a joint venture between The National Archives and the University of St Andrews, funded by the Leverhulme trust
• Making Sense of the Census Revisited - a joint publication of The National Archives and the Institute of Historical Research
• New calendar of state papers domestic, 1704-1705
• Have printed calendars had their day? - Join the dabate.

The Historical Manuscripts Commission also has a long tradition of the publication of calendars of records in its Reports and Calendars series, as well as, more recently, a series of guides to certain 19th century Prime Ministers' Papers (Wellington, Palmerston and Gladstone); Guides to Sources for British History, and a series of volumes published jointly with a number of local record publishing bodies. Find out more about publications of the Historical Manuscripts Commission that are still in print.

Most official texts and calendars are now published by Boydell and Brewer and feature in our bookshop.

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