Catalogue description Public Record Office: Publications on Records Management, Archives and related subjects

Publications for general release to the public on archives and records management, as topics in their own right, have their origins in the late 19th century management of the Public Record Office. In 1894, S.R. Scargill-Bird published 'A guide to the principle classes of documents preserved in the Public Record Office'. In 1923, Montague Spencer Giuseppi (Assistant Keeper from 1891-1934) first published his 'Guide to the Public Records' (3 volumes). This Guide was substantially updated later to cover public records to 1960 in ' Guide to the Contents of the Public Record Office (3 volumes, HMSO, 1963).

Sir Hilary Charles Jenkinson (1882-1961) was also an early pioneer on publishing such guidance in journal articles of various learned societies. He was employed by the Public Record Office from 1906 until his retirement in 1954 and became Deputy Keeper of Public Records in 1947: see PRO 30/ 75, T 273/ 120 and T 273/ 121.

Until the 1970s PRO publications on archives were mainly produced for the PRO Museum to coincide with various exhibitions on particular record themes - many written by Jenkinson himself. These include Jenkinson's publications on Archival Administration PRO 30/ 75/ 58, Guide to the Public Records Part 1 , and various other publications on medieval records and how to use them.

Jenkinson was also influential in early publications on records management. His views on a first review of records for business purposes five years after their creation and a second review of records for archival purposes 25 years after creation contributed to the Grigg Committee 'Report to examine the management of government records' (1954) which was used as the template for the Public Records Act 1958. The proposals in the report sought to minimize the involvement of Public Record Office staff in the public records appraisal process.

From the 1970s to April 2003 there have been many publications on the archival records held by the Public Record Office issued under the 'Public Record Office' or 'PRO Publications' banner and usually written by Research or Editorial staff employed by the Office. From 1990 to April 2003 these publications were coordinated by the Public Services Group's various Publications Units.

Until the 1970s most records management advice to departments were issued as circulars rather than publications. From the last decades of the 20th century the Public Record Office has increased its guidance publications on records management to Departmental Record Officers (see PRO 52). Examples include the Government Services Department's Manual of Records Administration. In the 21st century, the Records Management Department (previously known as Government Services Department) has drafted and issued publications under crown copyright on various aspect of records management.