This week I made a trip to The National Archives at Kew to look at various recors including some records that had only recently become available there.
The records I had ordered were from the House of Lords and form part of the material that has recently been transferred to The National Archives as part of the Parliamentary Archives collection. I was particularly interested in two documents, which I had ordered in advance.
There was, however, a slight complication.
Before my visit, The National Archives contacted me to explain that the documents had historically been treated with a substance called Santobrite.
This was not something I had come across before, and it turned out to be a fascinating reminder that archives have their own histories – and that sometimes the history of a document includes the ways in which archivists have tried to preserve it.
What is Santobrite?
Santobrite was a fungicide used in archival preservation during the mid-twentieth century, particularly from the late 1940s into the early 1960s.
At the time, treating documents against fungal growth was regarded as an important part of preserving collections. Paper, parchment and other organic materials can be vulnerable to mould, particularly when stored in less-than-ideal environmental conditions.
Today conservation practice has changed considerably.
The National Archives explained that some of the Parliamentary Archives material had previously been treated with Santobrite. Although the Santobrite itself has now been removed, there may still be residue on the documents.
This means that some of the records have been given additional safe-handling procedures.
And this is where things became rather more interesting for me as a researcher.
A different way of viewing the records
When I arrived to view the documents, I therefore wasn’t simply going to be handed a box in the usual way. The documents flagged as having additional safe-handling procedures must be viewed in a designated area of the Map Room. Disposable nitrile gloves had to be worn while handling the documents (face masks and other ppe were also avaialble but optional).
To avoid potential cross-contamination with other non-flagged records, everything I used whilst working – particularly the table, camera stand, my camera and laptop – all had to be wiped down with the materials provided before leaving the designated area to view the rest of the documents I had order in the usual map room area.
None of this prevented me from examining the documents, but it did make the experience rather different from a normal visit to the reading room.
Does this mean the documents are dangerous?
Not in the sense that you should be alarmed about handling them.
The National Archives specifically explained that the risk of harm through Santobrite is minimal. The additional procedures are precautionary measures designed to minimise any potential exposure and, importantly, prevent the possible transfer of residue to other objects or records.
It is nevertheless useful information for researchers.
If you are planning to consult Parliamentary Archives material at Kew, particularly material that has recently been transferred, you may find that some documents have special handling requirements.
The important thing is to order the documents in advance and check the instructions provided by The National Archives.
It is also a good reminder that archives are not static collections. Records can move between repositories, conservation practices change, and material that was once treated in a particular way may require different handling decades later.
My Parliamentary Archives research
The Parliamentary Archives contain a huge range of material relating to Parliament and the work of the House of Lords. Bringing material into the Kew environment means that researchers who are already using The National Archives catalogue can now encounter records that were previously held elsewhere.
For genealogists and local historians, this can open up new possibilities.
House of Lords records can contain evidence that doesn’t necessarily appear in the more familiar parish, probate, land and court records. Depending on the particular series, they can potentially shed light on disputes, property, inheritance, legislation and the people involved in parliamentary and legal processes.
For me the two documents I viewed were crucial to my clients understanding of a series of cases his ancestor had been involved in – a Writ of Error brought before the House of Lords following Kings Bench proceedings.
A reminder for researchers
This experience made me think about the journey the documents themselves have been on since they were created. They themselves have a history after the events they describe.
We tend to think about the history of a document in terms of the person who created it, the event it records and the people who subsequently used it.
But there is another layer: the history of the document as an archival object.
Who stored it?
Where was it kept?
How was it conserved?
Was it repaired?
Was it treated against mould or insects?
Has it moved between repositories?
All of these things can affect how we encounter the document today.
The Parliamentary Archives material now at Kew has therefore acquired another chapter in its history – its journey from the parliamentary record-keeping environment to its incorporation into the holdings of The National Archives.
And, for researchers like me, that means there are now new records to explore, new finding aids to learn and, occasionally, a pair of nitrile gloves waiting for us when we arrive!
Practical information for researchers
If you are planning to consult newly transferred Parliamentary Archives material at The National Archives, it is worth checking the catalogue entry and ordering the documents well in advance. The catalogue does not itself tell you if they are subject to the additional Santobrite handling procedures.
