Handling paper documents

Bundles of folded papers letters in a box, tied into groups with cream cotton tape.

Bundles of paper letters in our collection.

More than 81% of The National Archives’ collections are made from paper. This includes tagged files, flat maps and plans, rolls, bundles, volumes and artworks. During manufacture, wood or other plant-based materials such as cotton or linen are broken down, or pulped, into their basic fibres. This process can be undertaken by hand, by machine, or chemically. How paper is made will affect its quality and durability, which in turn can impact handling considerations.

In our collections, we most commonly find:

Rag paper

Paper made from cotton or linen rags became popular in Europe from the 16th century onward.  The hand manufacturing process resulted in long fibres, meaning that the paper is strong, resistant to tearing, absorbs ink well and is chemically stable.

Wood pulp paper

Wood pulp paper dates from the mid-19th century onward and became widespread as the manufacturing process was industrialised. This paper has shorter fibres because of its manufacturing process, which included grinding or chemical “cooking” to break down the wood pulp. Because of this, the paper is weaker, highly acidic and of poorer quality; it is easy to tear, discolour and becomes brittle relatively quickly.

Please note: other materials and formats may be found within paper documents, including photographic materials, folded maps, pamphlets, and seals.

Handling tagged files

Tagged files are typically comprised of paper, but may also contain other materials and formats, such as photographs, booklets, folded maps or loose objects.

Handling volumes

Volumes – or books – come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, weights and materials. Find out how to safely handle volumes in our collection.

Handling large flat and folded documents

Large-format documents include maps, plans and artworks. They may be flat or folded and can be made of a variety of materials and media.

Handling rolled maps and paper bundles

Rolled maps and bundles come in a range of sizes, weights and materials, which can present handling issues.