What are archives?

Archives, generated by individuals, families, businesses or institutions, tell the story of our past, showing us - and future generations - how we came to be what we are as individuals, as communities and as a nation. Archives are a thrilling immediacy of contact with historical events, and celebrate the diversity of our experiences and cultures.

Our archive collections sustain research in every branch of knowledge, whether the arts, humanities or sciences. They are the cornerstone of our legal system, and enshrine the memory of the nation. They include manuscripts, books, photographs, maps, plans, sound and moving images, and digital records.

Archives are preserved in the national archive institutions, local authority archives services run by local government, universities, libraries and museums. Some businesses and charities maintain and provide public access to their archives, as do some private and specialist institutions.

There are an estimated 2,000 archives in the UK.

Our archives are unique, irreplaceable national assets. The MLA Partnership works with a broad range of archive stakeholders and archive services to deliver an innovative and ambitious agenda for archives.

“Any Government that neglects archives does so at its peril. Archival documents are the foundations of our collective understanding of who we are…Archives contain fascinating primary sources with the potential to engage and hold the attention…because they’re real and they’re personal. They lift the curriculum and study and also inspire the imagination… I am clear that all 2,200 record holding institutions are part of our uniquely rich cultural heritage and have a role to play in promoting learning and understanding through access”

[David Lammy, Minister for Culture, keynote speech, launched Archives Awareness Campaign, April 2007]