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We will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2026. We open as usual the next day, Tuesday 26 May.

Funded and Managed by
City of London Corporation
The London Archives

The London Archives Partnership

A Cooperative Network for London's Local Authority Archives
Stylised map of London's boroughs with pictures of people, archives and activity within each borough area
The London Archives Partnership - London borough map
Archives, and the services that look after them on behalf of each local authority, sit at the centre of their communities and provide invaluable connections to the people, places and stories that make up each London borough
Former LAP Chair, Tamsin Bookey, Why Archives?, Why Now?, 2022

The London Archives Partnership (LAP) was formed in 2013 with a vision to enable 'a collaborative, creative and cost effective approach to the management of London’s local authority archive services, increasing access to the city’s history, preserving its heritage and reflecting the changing character of London and Londoners.'

Its regular network meetings act as a forum for those working within archive services to discuss current and future practice, mutual challenges and solutions, opportunities for collaboration, and find out about other services’ individual projects and progress, as well as training and funding initiatives.

The partnership is open to all of London’s local authority archive services, with representatives invited to join the board; all LAP members are welcome to attend network meetings.

The LAP Board

LAP Board members are:

  • Laurence Ward, Assistant Director, The London Archives (Chair)
  • Julie Melrose, Archivist, LB Haringey
  • Patricia Dark, Archivist, LB Southwark
  • Chris Foord, Outreach and Engagement Manager: Heritage, LB Kingston
  • Fiona Tarn, Head of Libraries, LB Camden
  • Colin Chester, London Borough of Culture Legacy Manager, LB Brent
  • Gillian Staples, Archives and Collections Lead for Westminster City Archives and LB Kensington & Chelsea
  • Karen Rushton, Archivist, LB Barking & Dagenham
  • Philippa Turner, Sector Development Manager: London, The National Archives (Secretary)
  • Helen Wilson, Sector Development Manager: London, The National Archives (Secretary)

LAP Network Meetings

Network meetings enable paid employees working in archive services to meet regularly to discuss developments in the profession, news from the sector, and current and potential collaborative projects. It is also a forum to learn more about best practice, receive training, and hear about the projects and progress of individual services throughout London.

The Network typically meets quarterly, either in-person at an archive service or online. Recent topics addressed include advocacy for archives, the UK-wide Archive Service Accreditation standard, environmental sustainability, and digital preservation.

Peer support

As well as benefiting from peer support during the network meetings, the LAP Network members also have access to a mentorship scheme. Any LAP Network member can request to be paired with a mentor from the Network to support their development in a specific area, for example, working towards an Archive Service Accreditation application or implementing digital preservation policies and procedures.

Advocating for archives

Many of the LAP Board and Network members advocate for archives through roles in other cultural heritage groups and networks.

In addition, on 5 July 2022, the LAP launched its advocacy brochure, Why Archives, Why Now?

Published with council members, directors, and heads of service in mind, it demonstrates why archives matter and why archive services are a key resource within each London Local Authority.

Through six case studies, the brochure shows how archives are at the forefront of wider local government priorities including embedding inclusion, place-making, and enhancing wellbeing. It also emphasises the role of archives in supporting good governance and councils’ statutory obligations in relation to collecting, preserving, and making accessible the records of their activities.

Watch the launch webinar for Why Archives, Why Now? which includes talks on:

  • Building Connections through Community Engagement
  • Using Archival Film and Outreach
  • Digital Preservation
  • Inclusion, diversity and anti-racism: seeking social justice through archives

To request a copy of Why Archives, Why Now? please contact the LAP Chair, Laurence Ward

Past Projects and Collaborations

LAP has been involved in various projects and collaborations since its creation, for example:

London Archive Photos Portal: several boroughs worked with Max Communications on a shared portal where copies of archive photos can be purchased. After a one-off upfront charge, any income generated from the sale of photos is shared between Max Communications and the borough. The portal includes an interactive google map and simple search engine to search by title, street, postcode, decade and theme.

London Boroughs 50th Anniversary: LAP worked collaboratively with London Councils and London Archive Services to co-ordinate the celebratory activities for the 50th anniversary (1965 – 2015) of the London Boroughs. The resources generated were available online, including the film, almanac, photo gallery and histories.

Getting the Most Out of Your Archive Service: LAP worked with London Councils to produce a set of online case studies summarising pieces of work by London’s borough archive services that demonstrated alignment with wider council outcomes.

Resources