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Working with Difficult Records: Sharing Practices Across the Archive Sector

This thought-provoking series of lunchtime talks explores how archives engage with difficult records through people-centred and trauma-informed practices.

Contents

Between January and June 2026, people from across the archive sector were invited to discuss the importance of care, empathy, and community in archival work.

Explore each session and its recording below.

2026 programme

Introduction to trauma-informed and person-centred practices

Date

29 January 2026

Speaker

Dr Anna Sexton

In this session, Dr Anna Sexton introduced the key concepts of trauma-informed and person-centred practices and shared practical frameworks for embedding these approaches into everyday archival work. She outlined strategies to support emotional sustainability and wellbeing among professionals.

Working with records of traumatic histories

Date

25 February 2026

Speakers

Eliza McKee, The National Archives

Hari Jonkers, Holocaust Centre North

Gillian Boll and Malcolm Mathieson, Amnesty International

This session brought together three speakers from the archive sector that have worked with survivors or relatives of victims of violent and/or traumatic events. They reflected on:

  • The emotional pressure and responsibilities of providing access to these records.
  • The problems of closed, redacted or missing records.
  • The feelings that need to be navigated while doing this work.

Working with criminal justice records

Date

25 March 2026

Speakers

Charlotte Smith, The National Archives

Jessamy Carlson, The National Archives

Miles Wright, Law Commission

This session brought together speakers from The National Archives and elsewhere to reflect on the ways in which different users engage with criminal justice records. This included the challenges they face, and the challenges involved in supporting those users. The speakers also considered the benefits which can be derived from securing meaningful access to the records.

Working with medical and mental health records

Date

15 April 2026

Speakers

Laura Robson-Mainwaring, The National Archives

Jenny Marsden, Manchester Together Archive

Kate Jarman, Barts Health NHS Trust

This session explored the complexities of working with records related to medical scandals, terrorism, and personal trauma. Speakers presented case studies of person-centred initiatives and discussed the difficulties encountered when records are missing or inaccessible. They reflected on the value and impact of organising such activities, the types of support provided, and the lessons learned in collaboration with affected communities.

Working with records for social justice

Date

7 May 2026

Speakers

Sean Cunningham, The National Archives

Jessica & Matthew Turtle, Museum of Homelessness

Sandra Shakespeare, Museum X

Archive collections and records can bring together people and help initiatives of social justice. This session invited experts who have worked with communities affected by social inequalities to reflect on how archives have supported them in their missions.

Working with beneficiaries

Date

11 June 2026

Speakers

Paul Beard, University College London and The Salvation Army

Megan Parker, Barnardo’s

Dr Elisabeth Lomas, University College London

This session brought together speakers to explore how archives support the rights of service-users and beneficiaries.

Looking specifically at the records of care-experienced people, the session reflected on the complexities of managing and providing access to important personal records. It also highlighted how practitioners working with such records have pioneered the use of person-centred approaches.

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