Do you have records or materials that you think should be placed in an archive?
First you need to identify which archive might be interested in taking them.
Most archives (and there are more than 2,500 in the UK) has a collecting policy that determines what types of records they will collect. For example a local or county archive will collect records relating to their geographical area, a military museum archive will collect records relating to their regiment or corps, and there are other archives that specialise in particular subjects, such as certain industries, or types of organisation.
Ways to identify an archive:
- Search for archives across the UK using Find an archive
- If the records concern a business or company, try the Business Archives Council
- View listed community archives at The Community Archives and Heritage Group (CAHG), which supports community archives in the UK & Ireland
Contacting an archive
When you have identified a possible archive, contact them first. Don’t ever deliver or send archive materials before first contacting the archive and arranging for them to consider the material. The archive might ask that you first send in some images of examples of the material, or a list of what is contained.
Caring for archive material
Alternatively, you may decide that you want to retain the material yourself, if you are unable or unwilling to deposit it with an archive.
Here are some useful sources of information on how to care for archive material:
Donating to us
The National Archives collects records generated by central government and the law courts. Very rarely do individuals hold records that should be deposited with us.
However, if you have followed the steps above, and still think that TNA is the correct place to deposit, then please contact us.