Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future

72 Examples of Archive TypesAcross the UKSome examples of each type of archive are included here.National archivesThe National Archives, The National Archives of Scotland,the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.Records heldPublic records of government departments agenciesand bodies; private and semi-private collections of publicfigures and officials; significant map, plan and photographcollections; official printed material (The National Archivesof Scotland and the Public Record Office of NorthernIreland also hold private and business collections).National institutionsThe British Library, The British Library Sound Archive,The BBC, The Parliamentary Archives, The National Filmand Television Archive.Records heldManuscripts, files, maps, plans, prints, photographsprinted material, departmental files, oral historycollections, digital records, audiovisual archives createdor received by the institution.Central government departments, agenciesand bodiesHome Office, Ordnance Survey, UK Hydrographic Office.Records heldCurrent and semi-current records created or receivedin the conduct of official business. e.g. departmental filesand digital records, electronic datasets, printed material,maps, plans, photographs. Archives retained foradministrative use.Local authority run archives, local historyand local studies servicesLondon Metropolitan Archives, Gloucestershire CountyRecord Office, Sheffield Archives, West Sussex RecordOffice, Islington Archives, Glasgow City Archives,Glamorgan Record Office.Records heldOfficial, unofficial private and business records relatingto a particular geographical location: e.g. local governmentand related records; public records; ecclesiastical records;legal records (e.g. quarter sessions); estate, family andmanorial records, business records (e.g. solicitors, estateand land agents, architects, retailers, publicans records);industrial and manufacturing records; records of voluntaryorganisations, clubs, societies and charities, antiquarianand manuscript collections.National/regional museums and galleriesNational Gallery, Natural History Museum, Imperial WarMuseum, National Railway Museum, York, AshmoleanMuseum, Oxford.Records heldManuscripts, maps, plans, prints, photographs, printedmaterial, departmental records, audiovisual archivesrelating to particular collections.Higher Education sectorCambridge University, Durham University, North LondonUniversity, Queen’s University Belfast, University ofDundee, University of Wales, Swansea colleges of furthereducation, schools.Records heldRecords, archives and manuscripts acquired or donatedto the holding institution e.g. private papers, printedmaterial manuscripts, deposited public records, maps,plans, prints, sound recordings, audiovisual archives,digital records.