Designation of The Royal Mail Archive
Records in The Royal Mail Archive are officially recognised as being of outstanding national importance.
Specifically, the archive records of the British Post Office have been awarded Designated status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
The Post Office (now Royal Mail Group Limited) is a public business which has touched our everyday lives for nearly 400 years. The archives in our care range from employment records and staff magazines, to Postmaster General's papers and original stamp artwork. These records form one of the oldest business archives in the world.
The Archive is free to visit and is used by anyone from family and social historians, to design students and media production companies.
What is Designation?
Designation is an official mark that says a heritage collection is important both nationally and internationally.
In 1997, MLA recognised that many of the collections held by museums in England, not labelled as 'national' by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, were nevertheless important to British heritage. As a result, it invited museums to apply for Designated status.
In 2005, MLA opened up the scheme to the collections of libraries and archives. The Royal Mail Archive was one of over 100 organisations that applied for this prestigious award, and the Post Office records were one of just 38 collections in England to have been granted it in 2005.
Why is Designation important to the BPMA?
MLA is the national development agency for museums, libraries and archives. It advises the government on policies and priorities for our sector. Although Designation is not an excuse to rest on our laurels, it is additional confirmation from a key authority that the work of the BPMA is valuable to everyone.
Mark Wood, Chair of MLA, said in 2005:
"It’s not just national
institutions which hold our greatest treasures. Some of the nation’s
most important collections are in independent museums, libraries and
archives across the country... One of them is right here in The Royal
Mail Archive. I hope that people will seize the opportunity to see this
unique treasure right on their doorsteps".
For the BPMA, having this specific part of our collections Designated can only help in our work to safeguard and increase access to all of the nation’s postal heritage.
