Forum on Historical Manuscripts and Academic Research

The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (HMC) was set up to locate and record the contents and location of private papers of historical interest (apart from public records) and to advise on preservation, storage and access. The board of commissioners was appointed by HM The Queen, and Lord Bingham was Chair until 2003.

In response to significant technology changes taking place and issues affecting public and private archives, HMC merged with the then Public Record Office (PRO) in 2003 to create The National Archives. The aim was to increase the HMC’s capacity and the impact it was able to have within the sector. Since the merger in 2003, the functions of the HMC have been undertaken in what is now the Archives Sector Development department at The National Archives.

The Forum on Historical Manuscripts and Academic Research has been set up to increase the visibility of historical manuscripts and scholarly research, and also bring to the fore the issues affecting private archives.

The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts was appointed under Royal Warrant in 1869 to make enquiry as to the places where manuscripts and private papers of historical interest were located and to report on their contents. The terms of reference were extended in 1959 to include the commission’s current functions.

With the creation of The National Archives in April 2003, the warrant was amended to allow the Keeper of Public Records to become the sole Historical Manuscripts Commissioner.

The Warrant

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ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, To all to whom these Presents shall come,

Greeting!

WHEREAS it was represented to Her late Majesty Queen Victoria that there were belonging to many Institutions and Private Families various Collections of Manuscripts and Papers of general Public Interest a knowledge of which would be of great utility in the illustration of History, Constitutional Law, Science and general Literature; that in some cases these Papers were liable to be lost or obliterated, and that many of the possessors of such Manuscripts would be willing to give access to them and permit their contents to be made public provided that nothing of a private character or relating to the Title of existing owners, should be divulged:

AND WHEREAS it appeared to Her Majesty that there would be considerable public advantage in it being generally known where such Manuscripts and Papers were deposited, and that the contents of those which tended to the elucidation of History, and the illustration of Constitutional Law, Science and Literature, should be published; Her Majesty did accordingly, by Royal Warrant bearing the date the second day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, appoint Commissioners to make inquiry as to the places in which such Manuscripts and Papers were deposited, and for any of the purposes therein mentioned:

AND WHEREAS by Royal Warrants bearing date the eighteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven and the twenty-seventh day of March, one thousand nine hundred and nineteen, new Commissions were issued for the purposes specified in the original Commission above referred to:

AND WHEREAS by Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual bearing date the fifth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine, We deemed it expedient that the terms of reference to Our said Commissioners should be revised and extended:

AND WHEREAS We have deemed it expedient that the responsibilities of the said Commission be exercised by a sole Historical Manuscripts Commissioner.

NOW KNOW YE that We do by these Presents will and ordain that Sarah Jacqueline Tyacke, for so long as she shall hold the Office of Keeper of Public Records, and any persons who shall succeed her in that Office, for so long as they shall hold it, shall act as sole Historical Manuscripts Commissioner, and accordingly We authorise and require Our said Commissioners hitherto appointed and still holding office to cease to exercise the powers and privileges conferred upon them as Chairman and Members of the said Commission.

AND We do further by these presents Will and Ordain that Our said Commissioner shall make enquiry as to the existence and location of manuscripts, including records or archives of all kinds, of value for the study of history, other than records which are for the time being public records by virtue of the Public Records Acts; with the consent of the owners or custodians inspect and report on them; with the consent of the owners or custodians reproduce and publish or assist the publication of such reports; record particulars of such manuscripts and records in a national register thereof; promote and assist the proper preservation and storage of such manuscripts and records; assist those wishing to use such manuscripts or records for study or research; consider and advise upon general questions relating to the location, preservation and use of such manuscripts and records; and promote the co-ordinated action of all professional and other bodies concerned with the, preservation and use of such manuscripts and records.

Members of the Forum include experts in academic research and/or those with knowledge and experience of private archives.

Master of the Rolls

Chair of the Forum on Historical Manuscripts and Academic Research.

Dr Nigel Fletcher, Dr Helen Forde and Prof Leon Litvack

Dr Fletcher, Dr Forde and Prof Litvak are members of the Advisory Council, whose backgrounds are aligned to historical manuscripts/private archives and academic research.

Prof Leon Litvack is the Deputy Chair of the Forum.

There is currently one vacancy on the Forum.

Dr Adele Redhead

Lecturer at the University of Glasgow, where she leads the MSc in Information Management and Preservation. Adele is a qualified archivist and has extensive experience in archives and records information management, in a variety of sectors. She is a member of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Commission.

Ms Jenny Shaw

Collections Development Manager for the Wellcome Collection, where she is responsible for setting the collecting direction across formats, including archives.  She previously worked as an archivist at the British Red Cross and BT Heritage.

Mr Bill Stockting

Bill manages the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle. He has previously worked in local government archives, as well as at The National Archives and the British Library. He is on the board of the Archives and Records Association (ARA) and a member of the International Council on Archives’ Expert Panel on Archival Description (EGAD).

The Chief Executive of The National Archives

Member of the forum, on an ex officio basis, as the Historical Manuscripts Commissioner.

Overview

1 The Forum on Historical Manuscripts and Research (the ‘Forum’) is a sub-committee of the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives – an expert advisory non-departmental public body, chaired by the Master of the Rolls and reporting to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

2 The Forum fulfils the Advisory Council’s remit in relation to manuscripts, records and archives not within the public records system. It also provides expert advice and challenge to The National Archives on its work with the archives sector and the research and academic community

Role

Advising the Secretary of State:

3 The Forum will consider and provide advice to the Secretary of State on matters relating to manuscripts, records and archives, other than public records, and particularly:

• the location, collection, care, custody, preservation, acquisition, sale and use in all formats of such documents
• the compilation and dissemination of information about them
• any questions affecting such documents as may be referred for its consideration, including issues relating to the statutory duties of the Master of the Rolls in respect of manorial and tithe documents, and the making of recommendations to appropriate Ministers on the allocation of archives and manuscripts accepted for the nation in lieu of tax
• other issues that would formerly have come within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts as set out in the Royal Warrant, which appoints the Keeper of Public Records the sole Historical Manuscripts Commissioner

Advising The National Archives:

The National Archives fulfils the UK-wide remit of the Historical Manuscripts Commission and leads the archive sector in England. The Forum will provide advice and challenge to The National Archives’ Chief Executive and Keeper and senior officials on The National Archives’ work discharging these responsibilities, particularly:

• the development of government policies affecting archives
• sector-wide strategies and initiatives led by The National Archives
• any issues of concern highlighted to members by archive users and practitioners
• issues related to the Historical Manuscripts Commission function where independence is needed, including mechanisms for the Keeper, or others, to support the sector as necessary

The National Archives serves a diverse community of individuals and institutions engaged in archive-centred and scholarly research. The Forum will provide an open, independent and authoritative advisory voice to The National Archives to support constructive and collaborative engagement between The National Archives and this wider research community, sharing knowledge and developing trust and understanding. Areas for advice and exchange will include:

• opportunities for collaboration
• the development of The National Archives’ archival research strategies
• initiatives to open up and/or more widely disseminate archival collections
• any issues of concern highlighted to members by the research community

In relation to both the archives sector and the research community, the Forum provides The National Archives with strategic advice on The National Archives’ engagement with key stakeholder groups.

Membership, attendance and secretariat

The Forum is chaired by the Master of the Rolls and comprises four members of the Advisory Council and three additional members appointed directly to the Forum. In the event of the Master of the Rolls being unable to attend a meeting, the Deputy Chair will act as chair.

All members of the Forum, appointed via the Advisory Council or directly to the Forum, are appointed by the Secretary of State in line with guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and will act in accordance with relevant codes of practice for such appointments.

The National Archives’ Chief Executive and Keeper attends meetings of the forum ex officio, as does the Head of Archives Sector Development. Other officials of The National Archives will usually attend as follows:

• The Director of Research and Collections
• The Head of Chief Executive and Keeper’s Office

The Secretary to the Advisory Council acts as Secretary to the Forum.

Meetings of the Forum

The Forum will usually meet three times a year, with one of the meetings jointly held with the Advisory Council. The Forum may also consider issues via email (e.g. on the acceptance in lieu scheme).

Meetings of the Forum will be quorate with the attendance, in person or via remote access, of four of the seven members.

Papers will be circulated to all members at least one week (five working days) in advance of meetings. Draft minutes will usually be circulated to members within one month (20 working days) of the date of the meeting.

Reporting

When performing the Forum’s role to advise the Secretary, the Forum reports to the Advisory Council, which is chaired by the Master of the Rolls, which in turn reports to the Secretary of State. This reporting line provides an escalation route for any concerns the Forum may have in relation to the areas within its remit.

The Advisory Council receives an update from the Forum as a standing item at each of its meetings. This will usually be in the form of an oral update from one of the members. Agreed minutes of meetings of the Forum will be circulated to members of the Advisory Council.

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Terms of reference agreed: 21 May 2021
Next review: 2022

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See summaries from previous meetings in our web archive.