Records Preservation
Section (RPS)
A clearing house and rescue body for archives, the RPS works to ensure that material of historical interest is deposited with appropriate record offices.
A network of local authority, specialist and business archive repositories covers the UK. For anyone with archives which they would like to place in safe-keeping, deciding where to deposit items can be difficult.
The problem of what to do with archival material is a particularly acute one for solicitors, who often find themselves storing title deeds and other materials for old clients who can no longer be traced. Solicitors cannot sell or destroy these items (which belong to the client) so the only ethical way of disposal of non-sensitive material is by depositing it with an appropriate record office on indefinite loan. This means that the material can be recalled should the original owner reappear and request its return.
The RPS can help solicitors and others by advising on or carrying out, the transfer of such material to record repositories. It can also visit firms and advise on the care of records not earmarked for transfer in this way.
Law Society Practice Note on Depositing Records and Documents
The Association is delighted to draw attention to a very welcome new Practice Note for legal practitioners, which was issued on 15 December 2010 by the Law Society, under the title Depositing records and documents with public sector archives. This important guidance was drawn up at the instance of a working party of the Selden Society. Dr Anthony Smith (chair of the Association’s Records Preservation Section), who is a member of this working party, reports that the Note not only lays stress on the importance of preserving and depositing both the clients’ papers and business records of legal firms but also highlights the importance of the Association as an advisory and intermediary body in this process. This important new guidance will thus assist the Association’s own core objective of ensuring the preservation of records of historical importance deriving from legal firms. For further details go to:
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/practicenotes.page
Religious Archives Survey
The Chair of the Records Preservation Section, Anthony Smith has released a statement regarding the BRA's response to the Religious Archives Survey. Click here to read the statement.
Records Preservation Section position paper 2009
The Records Preservation Section have issued a position paper regarding the
status of their services and the section for 2009. Click here to read the paper.