Important records
Looking after your records
Private owners of records, whether individuals, families, businesses, or other institutions, can care for their archives in two ways. They can look after them directly in their own homes or premises. Alternatively they can transfer them to a suitably-equipped record repository which can undertake the task for them either as a deposit on loan or as an outright gift when ownership is transferred. Further information about deposit agreements is provided in our Acquisitions section.
The National Advisory Services department is always ready to advise owners on any aspect of the care of their archives if they choose to retain them. We can also advise you about the strategic and resource implications of keeping archives of substantial size and the availability of grant aid. We can provide a range of proportionate advice on the care of archives ranging from those held by major institutions which can aim to meet national archival standards and best practice to individuals with papers of significance which they want to retain at home and who need information about basic preservation measures. We draw on expert advice from colleagues in other departments of The National Archives dealing with preservation, legal and other issues or refer enquiries direct to such specialists where appropriate.
More specific advice about protecting your archives and other records against disaster is also available.
- Protecting archives and manuscripts against disasters (PDF, 47.92kb)
We will also put you in touch with local sources of professional archival advice where this is more convenient or appropriate.
Other sources of advice and assistance are:
Records Preservation Section, British Records Association
The section specialises in sorting and depositing in appropriate record offices those records, which are no longer, required for current purposes and which emanate mainly from London solicitors.
Business Archives Council
Provides help in tracing the records of industrial and commercial undertakings, carries out surveys of business archives and offers guidance to companies and institutions on the management of their records.
Business Archives Council of Scotland
Performs similar functions to its London-based counterpart.
Church of England Record Centre
Acts as a general clearing-house for information on all central records of the Church of England and can offer advice on the records of all Anglican institutions.
Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine
Identifies, collects, catalogues and advises on the personal and working papers of 20th century British medical practitioners and scientists working in medical and ancillary disciplines. Its interests also include the records of medical institutions, societies and related pressure groups.
National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists
Aims to locate, preserve and make accessible the personal papers of contemporary scientists and technologists. The unit sorts and lists their papers and arranges, with the owner's agreement, for their deposit in a suitable repository.
Contact details for these organisations are on the Archon Directory the Archives Portal.
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