New Acquisitions

The London Archives exists to find, collect, preserve and make accessible the records of London’s rich history and of its vibrant and diverse present.

We are a collecting archive, which means that we seek out and take in material which relates to the City of London, to the Greater London area, and which are of London-wide significance. The work we do in taking in archive is essential to make sure that the archive is truly representative of London and Londoners.

The types of material we accept into the archive can include:

• minutes
• correspondence
• registers
• plans
• photographic, printed and audio-visual material
• Emails, electronic files and other digital material

Annually, we receive a total of over 500 linear shelf metres for all types of collections.

As part of our work in acquiring archives we welcome enquiries relating to offers of potential additions of records to the collections.

We consider each offer of records carefully to decide whether they are worthy of long-term preservation in an archive and, if so, whether The London Archives is the right place for them. We can acquire original records by gift, deposit or purchase. Gifts are preferred, although deposits are also taken.

An acquisitions group of our archivists and conservators meets to make decisions about potential deposits, considering conservation, access and storage requirements. The group firmly believes that the role of a public sector archive services, such as the City Corporation’s, is to provide a future home for archives at risk or which cannot be easily accessed or maintained by their owners.

When a deposit is accepted, a charge is normally made for packaging and cataloguing of the collection. A fee is normally payable where a collection is withdrawn permanently by a depositor. Records presented as gifts are normally maintained at the City Corporation’s expense, except where collections are larger and where considerable expenditure is required.

Details of new acquisitions The London Archives receives are provided annually to The National Archives, the highlights of which are summarised on The National Archives website.

Once received, records are in due course prioritised for cataloguing. Documents are described according to international professional archival standards, numbered, packaged and located. The cataloguing process is vital in enabling future access to records.

What does The London Archives collect?

The London Archives exists to collect, look after and make accessible records of London’s rich history. We collect records that will help researchers, both now and in the future, to uncover the story of London and its people. We collect records relating to the City and to the Greater London Area for their historical value, aiming to select material that is worthy of permeant preservation.

While many of the records we collect come to us from government, public services, City organisations or from long-standing relationships with important institutions we may also accept records from individuals, families or organisation if they fit within our Collections Policy. LINK TO POLICY We rarely pay for material and where we do, only if it is the highest historical value and if the price has been judged to be a fair market rate.

How many?

There is no ‘right number’ of documents or images to offer to The London Archives. If the historical value and relevance is right, we may accept anything from single documents to large collections of documents or images.

Original

We usually only accept original records.

We are, therefore, less likely to be interested in copies or printed material. Usually, the only material other than original records (‘secondary-source materials’) we accept will be items which may help researchers using our records and will be added to The London Archive’s reference library.

We actively collect digital records.

The London Archives may be interested in taking in personal/family records (such as diaries, letters and papers) or business or organisational records. (See below for more information about the specific types of records we may want to collect.)

We also actively collect images of London in the form of photographs, prints, maps and other graphic material.

How old?

We are unlikely to accept records that are in current use (such as minutes from meetings that are still referred back to) or which are very recent (less than 15 years old). We will also be cautious about accepting records which have access restrictions under Data Protection legislation (such as recent records which contain lots of personal data about members of an organisation or the customers of a business).

If you are unsure whether the records you hold would be of interest to The London Archive our Collections Acquisition and Management Policy explains the rationale behind our collections.

If you would like to discuss depositing your records at The London Archives please contact us

No records should be sent to The London Archives unless we have agreed that the archive is the right home for them. Unsolicited material may be returned.

What types of business or organisational records does The London Archives collect

If The London Archives believes that the records of a business or organisation fits with our Collection Policy, the types of records we are likely to accept are:

• Constitutional - establishment, constitution, privileges and internal regulation, including charters, grants, royal licences, articles, certificate of incorporation
• Council, committees, annual general meetings, trustees – minutes (signed version where available), agendas, presented reports and papers, annual reports
• Chairman / director / other key positions – correspondence/project/planning files, reports, business plans
• Secretary / clerk – letters, correspondence files, events, notices and circulars
• Operational / branch / centres / members / cases – operational registers, lists, rules, factory records
• Finance – annual accounts, cash books, account books and ledgers, specific account books
• Staff – registers, ledgers, files on key individuals only, pension scheme, rules
• Property – plans, deeds, building works, inventories, valuations, artwork papers
• Printed and other (mainly in-house) – photographs, scrapbooks, news cuttings, printed magazines/newsletters, leaflets, booklets, posters, books on history, audio-visual (films, video and audio cassettes), website snapshot, small, related, written artefacts (most artefacts are suitable for museums only)

What types of personal or family records does The London Archives collect

Typically, these records may include diaries, letters, photographs and other collected items.

Property records including deeds and plans may also be considered but, the London Borough Archives may be a more appropriate repository for many of these records.

Personal and family records can have considerable cross-over with business and organisational records (e.g. family business records).

What types of graphic and visual material does The London Archives collect?

We are interested in material which has relevance to London and London’s people.

Individually built and curated collections which offer a perspective on London or a community within London through photographs, posters, drawings, maps, prints and other printed material, and/or audio-visual formats such as films, videos and tapes, may also fit within our Collections Policy.

Further information

• You can find out more about the variety of records we hold by exploring our collections.
• Read our policy and plan pages
• If you have a collection or records that you're considering depositing with The London Archives, please contact us.