The National Archives recently celebrated a significant milestone as our Chief Executive and Keeper, Saul Nassé, presented his first Archive Service Accreditation certificate since joining the organization last summer. The prestigious accreditation was awarded to Westminster City Archives, the local authority archive responsible for preserving the history of the City of Westminster. This marks the second time that Westminster City Archives has received full accreditation from The National Archives, a testament to their commitment to archival excellence.
The Archive Service Accreditation is a rigorous process that recognizes the high standards and best practices in the archival sector. It is an independent assessment of an archive service’s management, preservation, and user engagement, which is essential in ensuring the long-term accessibility of our heritage materials. The accreditation is awarded to archive services that meet a stringent set of criteria, including the collection and preservation of historical records, effective leadership and management, and excellent service delivery to users.
Saul Nassé presented the prestigious certificate to Westminster City Archives on behalf of The National Archives, and he was thrilled to congratulate them on their achievement. In his opening remarks, Saul expressed his admiration for the dedication and hard work of the entire team at Westminster City Archives. He also emphasized the importance of accreditation in shaping the future of archival services, stating, “Accreditation is not only an affirmation of the quality of an archive service, but it also plays a crucial role in guiding its continuous improvement and development.”
Westminster City Archives, located in the heart of the bustling city, is home to an impressive collection of over 67,000 historical records dating back to the 11th century. These records provide valuable insights into the rich and diverse history of Westminster, making them a vital resource for researchers, historians, and the local community. The archive service’s active engagement with users has been one of the key factors contributing to its successful accreditation. By organizing events, workshops, and exhibitions, Westminster City Archives has made history accessible and engaging to people from all walks of life.
Accreditation provides archive services with a framework for continual self-assessment and improvement, ultimately benefiting the users by ensuring the preservation and accessibility of valuable historical records. Westminster City Archives has consistently demonstrated its commitment to meeting these high standards and, as a result, has now been accredited for the second time. Dr. Tonya Nelson, Director of Accreditation at The National Archives, praised the archive service, saying, “Westminster City Archives has once again successfully demonstrated their commitment to preserving our nation’s rich history and providing excellent services to their users. This is a fantastic achievement.”
The National Archives is the official archive of the UK government and has been working closely with archive services across the country to improve and promote the sector. The accreditation scheme, introduced in 2013, has helped raise the profile of archive services and highlight the critical role they play in preserving our nation’s heritage. As a leading authority in the archival sector, The National Archives is dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability of archive services and their collections.
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Westminster City Archives for their outstanding achievement in receiving full accreditation for the second time. Their relentless efforts and commitment to excellence have been rightly recognized through this accreditation. We hope that their success will serve as a source of inspiration for other archive services across the country and encourage them to strive towards achieving this prestigious recognition in the future.
In summary, accreditation is a vital process that continues to shape and strengthen the archival sector. The success of Westminster City Archives is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of the team, led by the talented Chief Archivist, Katharine Hoare. We look forward to seeing more archive services follow in their footsteps and achieve the same level of excellence in the future. Long live our heritage and the remarkable institutions, such as Westminster City Archives, that preserve and promote it.
