The National Archives TNA (United Kingdom)

History and Founding

The National Archives (TNA) is the official national archive of the UK Government and for England and Wales. It holds documents dating back over 1,000 years and is open to the public free of charge. TNA is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government; its parent department is the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. TNA was formed in 2003 by bringing together four predecessor organizations: the Public Record Office (PRO, established 1838), the Historical Manuscripts Commission, the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI), and His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO). In 2025, Parliament's Archive Collections were relocated to The National Archives. Saul Nassé serves as Chief Executive and Keeper.

Collections and Holdings

The National Archives holds approximately 11 million documents covering over a millennium of British governmental and social history. Holdings include records of the British state from Domesday to the present, covering government administration, military affairs, colonial and foreign policy, law, finance, and much more. The collection encompasses parchment scrolls, paper documents, digital files, maps, photographs, and archived websites. Among its major holdings are Cabinet papers, Foreign and Colonial Office records, War Office records, and court records.

Journalism and Media Materials

TNA holds substantial resources relevant to media and journalism research. Its online research guides address newspaper research specifically, including a searchable catalogue (Discovery) allowing keyword searches for journalists, media organizations, and related topics. Records include press censorship files, broadcasting regulation documents, and papers of government departments with media oversight responsibilities. The Parliamentary Archives collections, now housed at TNA, include the papers of press magnate Lord Beaverbrook. TNA's Discovery catalogue links to resources across 2,500+ archives nationwide, including local newspaper archives and journalism collections.

Access and Usage

Reading rooms are generally open Tuesday through Saturday; entrance is free and no booking is required for general visits. Researchers wishing to view original documents must obtain a free Reader's Ticket, available to anyone aged 16 or over with two proofs of identity. Documents can be ordered in advance. Selected popular documents are available for digital download through the Discovery catalogue. The Discovery catalogue provides access to 32 million record descriptions, with over 9 million available for download.