Contents:

List of Figures Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction 1 How Government Shaped the English Archival Profession: Commissions, Legislation and Reports, 1800–1950 2 How Government Shaped the English Archival Profession: From Grigg to The National Archives, 1950–2003 3 A National Archival System or Strength in Diversity: National Archival Institutions, 1838–2003 4 Diversity of Provision: Local and Specialist Archives, 1889–2003 5 From Scholarly Preoccupations Towards Professionalism: Historical and Scholarly Associations, 1880–1945 6 The Development of Professional Bodies: The Society of Archivists and Beyond, 1945–2003 7 Gatekeepers to the Profession: Archival Education, 1880–1980 8 Archival Education: Specialisation, Expansion and Development of Professional Education, 1960–2003 Conclusion: Archives and Archivists in Twentieth Century England Bibliography Index

Reviews

'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, Professor, Archival Studies, 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