Science and Technology Archives Group

The Science and Technology Archives Group (STAG) was formed in 2016 and exists to celebrate and promote scientific archives in the broadest sense.

We want to engage with everyone who has an interest in the creation, collection, preservation and use of archives relating to science, technology, engineering and related disciplines. To this end, STAG aims to create a network for all those who have an interest in archives of science, technology, engineering and related disciplines, to share knowledge and raise awareness of the value of such archives in all media and formats for research, education and public enjoyment.

STAG arose from an initiative, begun by The National Archives in 2014, to investigate how best to ensure the strategic wellbeing of Britain’s modern and contemporary science and technology archives. Our discussions with archivists, historians of science, data managers and other interested parties highlighted issues ranging from the promotion of the scientific archives held at The National Archives to the relationship between historical archives and current research datasets.

In 2016, The National Archives completed an options paper, with suggestions to:

  • improve how existing sources are accessed and used
  • improve the archival capture of contemporary scientific and technological records
  • ensure long-term constituency infrastructure to ensure sustainability

This paper also included some practical next steps to take these recommendations forward.

Full options paper (PDF, 0.84MB)
Executive Summary  (PDF, 0.15MB)

Following two successful consultative meetings held on 5 April and 29 June 2016, a steering committee was formed to create a specialist interest network – the Science and Technology Archives Group – to give focus and support to this area.

Notes of the meeting of 5 April (PDF, 0.32MB)
Notes of the meeting of 29 June (PDF, 0.23MB)

The Science and Technology Archives Group held its inaugural conference ‘Collecting Space’ at the Science Museum Dana Centre in November 2017. It has also established a mailing list to which you are invited to subscribe.

Steering committee

Anne Barrett, Archivist and Corporate Records Manager, Imperial College; Chair of Trustees of the Centre for Scientific Archives

Claire Button, Project Archivist, University of Edinburgh Library and Archives

Victoria Cranna, Archivist and Records Manager, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Katrina Dean, Curator of Scientific Collections, Cambridge University Library

Alison Fernie, Senior Records Manager, British Geological Survey

Rachel Foss, Head of Contemporary Archives and Manuscripts, British Library

Frank James, Professor of the History of Science, Royal Institution

Anne Locker, Archivist, Institution of Engineering and Technology

Tim Powell, Sector Development Manager, The National Archives

Jenny Shaw, ‎Special Collections Manager (Development and Stewardship), Wellcome Library

Nick Wyatt, Head of Library and Archives, Science Museum

The Science and Technology Archives Group is committed to ongoing consultation and dialogue, in which your participation is welcome. If you would like more information, please contact Tim Powell.