Business archives in the news
Business archives in the news
Guide launch: Natalie Ceeney (CEO), Sir Stuart Rose, Dame Stella Rimington and Professor Mervyn King (IMAGE NOT FOR RE-USE)
07 October 2009
The National Archives' Corporate Memory guide (PDF, 7.2Mb) released earlier this year, explains how businesses can make best use of their archives and gives examples of the many different ways companies today are successfully using their archives to help build their businesses.
MLA Designation awards
In recognition of the importance of business archives, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has recently awarded the archives of both Baring Brothers & Co and Unilever the status of pre-eminent collections held in England's non-national museums, libraries and archives.
The business papers of financial institution Baring Brothers & Co have been identified as a vital resource for England's economic history and business history. The comprehensive records held in the permanent archives of global manufacturer Unilever are considered to reflect the corporation's place in world trade.
A 'secret weapon'
Recent articles from The Financial Times have also featured the growth of corporate archives, in Historians looking to the future and Business reminded of archive 'secret weapon', as the subject has fallen under the media spotlight.
At the launch of Corporate Memory - a guide to managing business archives (PDF, 7.2Mb), Natalie Ceeney, Chief Executive of The National Archives, said: 'Business archives are a truly essential part of our country's commercial history. They are also clear proof to present and future entrepreneurs of the importance and value of information management.'
New national strategy
The National Archives, along with key partner organisations such as the Business Archives Council (BAC), is working to implement a new National Strategy for Business Archives. This year's BAC Conference will be held at The National Archives at Kew on Thursday 24 November 2009, where Natalie Ceeney will be giving the opening address.
