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. Archives and Archivists in 20th Century England innovatively focuses on the multifunctional reasons behind the creations of archives - they enable the conduct of business and support accountability whilst also meeting 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 while archivists and records managers are the professionals responsible for ensuring that these qualities are protected and exploited for the public good. This volume will be of key interest to anyone working with archives.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface; Introduction; 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: 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 20th century England; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Dr Elizabeth Shepherd qualified as an archivist and worked in archives and records management in local government before becoming a records management specialist at TFPL Ltd. In 1992 she was appointed in the Department of Information Studies at University College London to update and revise the MA in Archives and Records Management of which she was programme director until 2002. In 2003 she was appointed a senior lecturer and in 2007, Reader. She serves on the editorial boards of Journal of the Society of Archivists, Archival Science and the Records Management Journal, and was until recently a member of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council on National Records and Archives, the AHRC Peer Review College and the RAE 2008 Panel.

Review :
'Elizabeth Shepherd's history is a model archival history that should inspire the research and production of other historical inquiries in this field. Shepherd deftly handles the political and public policy aspects of archival work, the emergence of an archival profession, the education of archivists, the formation of archival knowledge, and the tensions between national and local archival concerns. Drawing on a rich array of sources, she describes the personalities, politics, and processes of archival work in a way that re-evaluates archival legends and counters archival mythologies. This is a book every archivist will want to read and reflect on.' 'Elizabeth Shepherd’s history is a model archival history that should inspire the research and production of other historical inquiries in this field. Shepherd deftly handles the political and public policy aspects of archival work, the emergence of an archival profession, the education of archivists, the formation of archival knowledge, and the tensions between national and local archival concerns. Drawing on a rich array of sources, she describes the personalities, politics, and processes of archival work in a way that re-evaluates archival legends and counters archival mythologies. This is a book every archivist will want to read and reflect on.' Richard J. Cox, University of Pittsburgh, USA 'This book represents a coming of age for the archival profession in England. At last we have a route-map through the complex thicket of a century and more of initiatives, enthusiasms, false starts and inspirations. Now we can understand not only what has been achieved but what still remains to be done.' Victor Gray, former President, the Society of Archivists, UK '… a well researched and important work.' Australian Academic & Research Libraries, March 2010 '…the first full-length study of the history of the archive profession in the 20th sentury. All archivists are therefore greatly in Shepherd's debt for revealing the recent history of their profession. … This book should be required reading for anyone interested in the history of British archives of any period.' Library & Information History, Vol 26, no 2, June 2010 'Elizabeth Shepherd’s Archives and Archivists in Twentieth Century England provides a firm foundation for further research regarding the basis of an archival tradition. While laying the groundwork for future analyses into the development of archival science in a specific country, in this case England, Shepherd at the same time provides a framework for other regional examinations.' American Archivist, Fall/Winter 2010 'This thoroughly-researched, clearly-structured and well-written book fills an important gap in the literature, providing the first substantive overview of archives and, particularly, the archive and records management profession in twentieth-century England … is sure to become a set text for all courses in archives and records management.' Archives, October 2010