Inspecting a document
Current research partnerships
The National Archives has an impressive history of working with partnership organisations to undertake research projects. Listed below are some of the current ongoing research projects.
Preservation
Changing Collagen Hierarchies in Parchment (2005 - 2008)
In collaboration with the Protein Chemistry Department, Cardiff University, with support from the National Archives of Scotland, this study seeks to answer fundamental questions about parchment artefacts. It aims to provide scientific evidence using X-ray diffraction/scattering technology to improve understanding of the changing interactions with water that may cause damage to collagen. The study will carry out tests on historic and modern parchments at various stages of degradation.
Technical Examination of Domesday (2006 - 2008)
In collaboration with Cardiff University Biophysics Group, School of Conservation, Demark and European Synchrotron Facility, France, we are trying to address some of the outstanding questions about the making and preservation of Domesday Book. The results of this project will help us to calibrate current preservation standards for this national icon.
IDAP150 (2007)
This project builds on models developed by IDAP (Individual Damage Assessment of Parchment EU Framework 6). The purpose of this work, undertaken with the School of Conservation, Copenhagen, is to compare collagen states of two groups of records held in The National Archives. This work will contribute to understanding the relations of environmental control and the stated deteriorations of collagen.
Planets (2006 - 2010)
This four-year EU-funded project brings together The National Archives' Digital Preservation department with 15 European libraries, archives, universities and commercial partners. The partners are working together to develop a new single digital preservation tool and services and are actively encouraging take up within user and supplier communities.
InSPECT (2006 - 2008)
In collaboration with Arts and Humanities Data Service (AHDS) and the British Library, this project seeks to develop and test methods for measuring the significant properties of digital objects for preservation purposes. One of the outcomes of this project will be an enhancement to PRONOM (online registry of technical information) and the development of new characterisation tools.
Information management
ACTivePSI (ongoing)
This collaborative project between the University of Southampton and Public Sector Information is exploring the potential re-use of broader sector knowledge to stimulate the UK knowledge economy and to understand the application of recent advances in technology to public sector information.
Multiple narratives, multiple views: exploring the shift from papers to digital archival description (2007- 2010)
The National Archives and UCL/SLAIS (School of Library, Archive and Information Studies at the University College London) are supporting post-graduate research to explore the methodology for users. Access to archives is important both for scholarly research and for a range of societal and organisational purposes. This project is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Collaborative Research Training Scheme
Using Archival Sources to Inform Contemporary Policy Debates: A Collaborative Research Training Scheme (2009 to 2010)
This is a joint project with the History and Policy Unit and is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The training aims to provide doctoral students with knowledge transfer skills, in identifying and using appropriate archival sources to enable them to use history to inform contemporary policy debates, and develop good practice in policy-making and implementation.
Collections research
British Governance in the twentieth century: Cabinet Papers (2007 - 2010)
Two-year project led by The National Archives and funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC). Its overall aim is to provide researchers, teachers and students with an online resource discovery and contextualisation package with access to the full-text of Cabinet papers, 1915-1975. Find out more about the Cabinet papers project.
Resource enhancement projects: a selected list
Calendar of Fine Rolls Henry III,1216- 1248
Calendar or Patent Rolls Elizabeth I, 1583-1603
Calendar of Medieval Inquisitions Post Mortem Henry VI, 1432-1442
Records of Central Government Taxation in England, 1190-1690
