Paper given at UK-Chora 5 July 2011 on the role of National Register of Archives in the formation of a record office network

2. Melinda Haunton UK-CHORA 5 July 2011 County Committee to County Record Office The role of the NRA in the emergence of a record office network

6. Post-war conditions “ We are simply overwhelmed just at present... implementing recent legislation such as the NHS act, Fire Brigades Act, Town and County Planning Act – apart from the fact that we have not yet got things straight under the Education Act and the Police Act”. HMC8/33 October 1947 “ When the present Offices were erected, accommodation was provided in the basement… but owing to war time requirements one of which was that the County Council was worked from this basement… I have no room whatever for further storage accommodation.” HMC8/12 January 1946

7. HMC8 and the County Committees HMC8/31 HMC8/54 “ I am anxious for as much discussion as possible as I particularly do not want to try and impose a rigid organisation on the County…. any County kind enough to co-operate should have the type of organisation best suited to its local circumstances... it should be such as to secure the support and full co-operation of all the varied County authorities” HMC8/60 Malet July 1946

9. What did the NRA think of the CROs? Regions vs counties “ The danger would be that one might lose the valuable asset of County patriotism, especially when dealing with local authorities, and also that there is so much to be done that large areas become unmanageable…” HMC8/58 October 1946 “ I would at present and speaking personally advise against the inclusion of Cornwall [with the Devon Committee] for several reasons… Its inhabitants have almost a national loyalty of their own county… the less important county, in this case (don’t repeat it) undoubtedly Cornwall, tends to stagnate… Truro, St Ives and Penzance are a very long way from Exeter… I think the area covered by both Counties together… would eventually produce too large a bulk of archives ... Experience has forced me to favour ‘shire’ schemes.” HMC8/19 Malet January 1948

11. What could the NRA do for the counties? Publicity and profile HMC8/31 HMC8/5 “ I find that a popular county Magnate, especially if he happens to be the Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum, usually proves to be an attraction and his official position covers the whole county” HMC8/19 Malet, April 1947 “ Dear Malet, I hope you were satisfied with Saturday’s meeting. For you personally it was quite a triumph, and there was no doubt that you held your audience from the word go.” HMC8/7 June 1947

12. What could the NRA do for the counties? Expert, authoritative voice “ Unfortunately we do not in these parts possess County Muniments Offices and therefore no one corresponding to the County Archivist of Kent. It might indeed be one of the functions of the committee to call attention to this serious gap.” HMC8/58 1948 I hope you will not think me interfering if I raise, unofficially, one point for your consideration. Archaeological and Record Societies throughout England are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the very large amount of estate records... which are being offered to them... I am speaking without any official contact with the AS but from some considerable experience of the difficulties common throughout England. In many counties the helping hand of the County Council has proved to be decisive in solving them.” HMC8/15 Malet February 1948

13. What could the NRA do for the counties? Local archives, local collecting “ No doubt the BM would take the whole lot but I do not see why they should have all the cream of England’s documents ” HMC8/1 Malet February 1948 “ He agreed that it was more than unlikely that the City Council would be willing to foot a bill large enough to cover the whole County. Because of this he agreed that the best long term solution would be a joint Count Council and City scheme…” HMC8/54 October 1949

16. ...But what could go wrong? “ I feel bound to point out that the City Council of Exeter have gone to considerable expense to establish a suitable depository not only for the city archives but for county and private archives” HMC8/19 March 1948 “ I feel inclined to suggest that…. It should be offered to the County Council under the same conditions as those laid down by Lord Ailesbury... The conditions were that the County Council should appoint a properly trained Archivist whose first task should be to classify and calendar them and to superintend their repair...” HMC8/60 July 1946