Chairman's Statement 2003

The Chairman's Year 2003

1. Lobbying

The Council considers it imperative to maintain a voice in public debates about archives, heritage and related matters. Since there is no other body which represents business archives exclusively. To that end we gave evidence to the Archives Task Force in August 2004. Here we highlighted a number of ways in which the currently challenging environment facing business archivists might be mediated. TheGovernment should encourage private sector businesses to maintain archive services, for example, by offering tax incentives, facilitating trust arrangements, etc. National Archives should take the lead in assessing and placing archives jettisoned by a parent company after takeover, merger or liquidation. The Business Archives Council undertakes to raise awareness in the wider business community and among academic institutions. We have appointed from within our trustee base a current awareness and lobbying officer to better co-ordinate efforts of this kind.

2. Publications

The Council is determined to maintain the strength and excellent quality of its journal, Business Archives and the two annual issues, 'Principles and Practice', and 'Sources and History.' We also intend to maintain the usefulness and attractiveness of our Newsletter.

3. Annual Conference

The Conference is an integral part of BAC life and a particular resource for our membership, since it acts as a recognised platform for debate and contact. The Trustees put on an impressive programme for our November 2003 conference on 'Business Records in a Changing Archival Landscape' and will make every effort to maintain this standard in future years.

4. Wadsworth Prize

This Prize is firmly established as the premier award in British business history, and it is our firm intention to maintain it on an annual basis.

5. Bursary

The bursary, awarded every two years, has not been vigorously promoted within the community of scholars. However, the Council intends to re-establish it as an annual prize, and see that it flourishes as a support for scholars wishing to embark on defined programmes in the exploitation of business archives.

Where possible other activities will be continued, but only if the resources, both financial and staffing, are available. Thus:

6. Surveys

The Council has been particularly successful over the years in producing archival survey volumes of high quality and we welcome the publication of the pharmaceutical industry survey. It is unlikely that new projects will be undertaken in the short-run, but future surveys should not be ruled out, particularly where these were undertaken in partnership with an academic institution. Advice would be taken from the community of business historians as to opportunities for new work.

7. Training

The Council is currently no longer in a position to provide training courses and workshops. However, it will maintain its support to the Liverpool University archives course, where Sara Kinsey is convenor of the business archives module on the Council's behalf. Additional training events in partnership with others may be considered in the future.

8. Advisory Service

Without an office and appropriate administrative support, the Council is currently unable to sustain an advisory service. It will however continue to act as a point of contact for inquiries about preservation and listing.