Surveying historical records

Surveys of historical records are a way of gathering information about the range and extent of archival collections on a common theme. They provide important additional information on records not otherwise listed in the National Register of Archives or other central sources of information.

We have made a checklist of the main issues that should be addressed when embarking upon survey work. It looks at all the elements of setting up a project including objectives, costs, funding and dissemination of the results. It is important that surveys address all these issues.

• Surveying historical records (PDF, 52.12kb)

Re-surveying

Access to previously surveyed material may be improved by resurveying to bring out references to topics latent, embedded or hidden in traditional archival description. The CASBAH surveying tool sets out a methodology for surveying research resources for Caribbean Studies and the history of Black and Asian peoples in Britain. The core methodology also provides a model for surveys of other under-developed subject areas. The survey tool pre-dates the creation of The National Archives (TNA) so the references to staff and resources now at TNA have often been superseded. Contact the National Advisory Services if you have any queries about references to work now carried out by TNA in this document.

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