Archives and Archivists in 20th Century England

Archives have the potential to change people's lives. They are 'a fundamental bulwark of our democracy, our culture, our community and personal identity' (National Council of Archives). They are created to enable the conduct of business and support accountability, but they also meet the demands of a democratic society's expectations for transparency and the protection of rights. They are the raw material of our history and memory. Archivists and records managers are the professionals responsible for ensuring that these qualities are protected and exploited for the public good. This book seeks to understand how archives and archivists in England developed during the 20th century. The author examines the political and legislative context, analyzes how archival institutions developed in local and central government, and in businesses and universities, and discusses the growth of the archival profession via formal societies and education and training. Although the book focuses on 20th century England, developments are traced from the Public Record Office Act in 1838 through to the formation of The National Archives in 2003. In addition, the author briefly discusses the comparative development of archives in continental Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia, thereby providing a context for the history of English archives.