Research and Markets: Archives and Archivists in 20th Century England

DUBLIN-(Business Wire)-September 1, 2009 - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/745a96/archives_and_archi) has announced the addition of the "Archives and Archivists in 20th Century England" report to their offering.

Archives have the potential to change people's lives. They are 'a fundamental bulwark of our democracy, our culture, our community and personal identity'.

They are created to enable the conduct of business and accountability, but they also support a democratic society's expectations for transparency and the protection of rights, they underpin citizens' rights and are the raw material of our history and memory. Archivists and records managers have a responsibility to ensure that these qualities are protected and the values are exploited for the public good.

This book is the first comprehensive study of the historical development of archives and archivists in twentieth-century England. It lays the foundations for understanding how and why the modern archives and records management profession developed in England. The story identifies and highlights the contributions made by many of the fascinating individuals who established archives services and it examines the development of professional practice. Although the book focuses on the twentieth century, developments are traced from the Public Record Office Act 1838, the commencement of building of the Public Record Office (PRO) in 1851, the establishment of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (HMC) in 1869, and other key nineteenth-century events. The story concludes with the formation of The National Archives in 2003.

Other countries have produced literature on the history of archives and the archives and records management profession. As well as studies of archives in the ancient world, there are writings about aspects of European archival history and about the emergence of archives and archivists in North America and in Australia. There is some limited treatment of international archival developments. The introductory chapter briefly reviews the Anglophone literature for the history of archives and archivists, focusing on the modern period, and provides a short comparative context for the English study. There are, however, few other studies of the development of the archival profession, as distinct from histories of archival institutions. This book is therefore a significant new contribution to the literature of historical studies of archives and archivists in English speaking nations.

Key Topics Covered:

How Government Shaped the English Archival Profession: Commissions, Legislation and Reports, 1800-1950
How Government Shaped the English Archival Profession: From Grigg to The National Archives, 1950-2003
A National Archival System or Strength in Diversity: National Archival Institutions, 1838-2003
Diversity of Provision: Local and Specialist Archives, 1889-2003
From Scholarly Preoccupations Towards Professionalism: Historical and Scholarly Associations, 1880-1945
The Development of Professional Bodies: The Society of Archivists and Beyond, 1945-2003
Gatekeepers to the Profession: Archival Education, 1880-1980
Archival Education: Specialisation, Expansion and Development of Professional Education, 1960-2003
Conclusion: Archives and Archivists in Twentieth Century England
Bibliography
Index