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From Your Archives

Contents 1 Introduction 2 The Arts 3 Broadcasting 4 Film 5 Further reading

[edit] Introduction

This leaflet details sources held at The National Archives for researching the arts (the performing arts, museums and galleries, the Government Art Collection and the control of the export of works of art), broadcasting and film. For information on sources held elsewhere see Sources for the History of Film, Television and the Performing Arts and Sources for the History of Fine Art and Artists.

With regards to Government's involvement in the licensing and regulation of the arts, broadcasting and film, this guide details sources held at The National Archives for the 'everyday' aspects, but does not explore those relating to any increased regulation that has occurred during times of emergency. See the Research Guide British Propaganda in the 20th century for further information on this subject.

[edit] The Arts

Before 1964, matters concerning the arts were mainly dealt with by the Treasury's Social Services Division, except for a short period between 1958 and 1963 when they were the responsibility of the Treasury's Arts, Science and Lands Division and again in the Social Services Division from 1963 . Prior to the creation of the Social Services Division in 1938, responsibility still rested with the Treasury, particularly the Establishments and Supply Departments.

In addition the Establishments Division of the Ministry of Education and its predecessors were directly responsible for the administration of the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. This arrangement continued until the National Heritage Act 1983 (Commencement No. 6) Order 1984/225 when they were given their own Boards of Trustees and became 'independent'.

Then, again the Office of Works and its successors were responsible for the Government Art Collection. This arrangement continued until 1979 when responsibility was transferred to the Office of Arts and Libraries.

Records	Record Series
Records of the Social Services Division, 1913-1981	T 227
Records of the Arts, Science and Lands Division, 1915-1966	T 218
Records of the Establishments Department, 1890-1948	T 162
Records of the Supply Department, 1905-1975	T 161
Treasury Papers, 1557-1920	T 1
Department of Education and Science, Establishment Files, 1835-1991	ED 23
Records of the Government Art Collection, 1899-1973	WORK 54
Advisory Council on the Export of Works of Art, 1951-1983	EP

Following Labour's win in the 1964 General Election, Jennie Lee was appointed the first Minister for the Arts. At first her office was located within the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works and the role was not well defined. Then, in 1965, a White Paper entitled 'A Policy for the Arts - the First Steps' was published. As a result both the Minister's office and responsibility for the arts were transferred to the Department of Education and Science. Consequently, the Department of Education and Science's External Relations Branch was renamed the Arts, Intelligence and External Relations Branch.

The existing responsibilty of the Department of Education and Science for the administration of the Science and Victoria and Albert Museums was also transferred to the newly renamed branch, but in a gradual way. Some staffing matters seem to have remained the responsibility of the Establishments and Organisation Branch for a while. Equally, the Treasury also retained some responsibility for pay/staffing matters with respect to museums and galleries. The Treasury's responsibility for the Advisory Council and the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art was, however, transferred. As the Treasury had done, however, the Department of Education and Science shared this responsibility with the Board of Trade and its successors. This arrangement continued until 1992 when the Department of National Heritage took full responsibility.

In 1970 a new Arts and Libraries Branch of the Department of Education and Science was established. The functions of the Minister for the Arts were, however, transferred to the Paymaster General on 23 June and were not returned until November 1973. In 1979 The Transfer of Functions (Arts and Libraries) Order 1979/907 transferred responsibility for the arts from the Department of Education and Science to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Office of Arts and Libraries was created to assist him with this element of his responsibilities. Then, on 1 April 1981, The Transfer of Functions (Arts, Libraries and National Heritage) Order 1981/207 transferred the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's duties in connection with Government responsibilities and policy for the arts back to Department of Education and Science, into which the Office of Arts and Libraries merged. On 1 July 1983, The Transfer of Functions (Arts, Libraries and National Heritage) Order 1983/879 transferred functions in relation to the arts once again out of the Department of Education and Science, this time to the Lord President of the Council, under whom the Office of Arts and Libraries became a separate department. Then, in 1984, under The Transfer of Functions (Arts, Libraries and National Heritage) Order 1984/1814, responsibility for the arts was transferred from the Lord President back to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Finally, under The Transfer of Functions (Arts, Libraries and National Heritage) Order 1986/600, responsibility returned to the Lord President from the Chancellor. During this period, there were some anomalies. For example, in 1986, the Natural History Museum was still sponsored by the Department of Education and Science, although the Office of Arts and Libraries was at that time separate from that department. Responsibility for it was not transferred until 1987.

In 1992 the Department of National Heritage (currently known as the Department of Culture, Media and Sport) was created and all the Government's responsibilities in relation to the arts were transferred to the new department.

Records	Record Series
Arts, Intelligence and External Relations Branch: Various Committees, 1969	ED 202
Arts and Libraries Branch and predecessors: Registered Files, 1948-1978	ED 221
Arts, Intelligence and External Relations Branch: Registered Files, 1968-1979	ED 236
Museums and Galleries, Registered Files, 1966-1979	ED 245
Committee on Provincial Museums and Galleries Papers, 1971-1973	ED 255
Records of the Department of National Heritage, 1995-2001	PF

Many of the records held at The National Archives reflect Government's relations with a wide variety of arts bodies and institutions, many of which have received or still receive funding from it. The bulk of these may be found in the series detailed above, but, in addition, the following may prove useful.

Records	Record Series
Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries, 1927-1930	T 105
Out-letters to British Museum, 1914-1922	T 144
Out-letters to London Museum and Wallace Collection, 1914-1922	T 145
Out-letters to National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, 1914-22	T 146
Finance Department Registered Files, 1887-1948	T 160
Blue Notes, 1880-1970	T 165
Records of the Civil Service Commission	CSC
Records of successive works departments and the Property Services Agency	WORK and CM
Records of the Welsh Office	BD
Records of the Museums and Galleries Commission, 1930-1999	EB
Records of the Museums Association, 1888-1995	HK

T 160 and T 165 contain material relating to the annual estimates submitted by the national galleries and museums. CSC contains material relating to the examination of candidates for posts in the museums and galleries, WORK and CM contain material relating to the maintenance of the buildings housing museums and galleries and BD contains some material relating to the Welsh national museums.

The administrative records of individual museums and galleries are generally held at the institutions themselves. Many have been assigned a department code, however, and some lists of available records can therefore be accessed through the Catalogue.

Museum/Gallery	Department Code
Tate Gallery	TG
British Library and British Museum Library	DH
Imperial War Museum	EN
RAF Museum	KE
National Portrait Gallery	BY
Wallace Collection	AR
British Museum	CE
Natural History Museum	DF
National Maritime Museum	NMM
National Gallery	NG
Science Museum	ED 79
Victoria and Albert Museum	ED 84

The administrative records of the Arts Council and its predecessor, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts are assigned the department code EL , but the material itself is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum Archives. The Arts Council was established as an independent body in 1946, but its predecessor, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts, existed within the Board of Education during the Second World War. Some of its records may, therefore, also be found amongst the Board of Education's papers, particularly within ED 136.

In addition records relating to other arts institutions can also be found at The National Archives. The easiest way to access them is to undertake a keyword search of the Catalogue. This will bring up most of the relevant material, which may be found throughout The National Archives' holdings.

For example, files on dissolved arts companies may be found in BT 31 and/or details of winding up proceedings are held in J 13. Records concerning visits abroad may be found amongst records held under department codes FO, FCO, CO or DO. The records of the British Council, which acts to promote British culture abroad, are held under department code BW. Photographs of actors, actresses and performances may be found in COPY 1 (which is in the process of being listed in detail, so is not yet completely keyword searchable).

Finally, The National Archives also hold some records relating to the Government's role in arts festivals and licensing and regulation.

Material relating to the Festival of Britain can be found in the series WORK 25. The records of the New Millennium Experience Company (The Millennium Dome) will be held under department code PD, but they have not yet been transferred.

Records relating to the Lord Chamberlain's role in licensing are held in LC 7 and LC 1. He also had a role in stage censorship, although copies of the plays submitted for his approval, assigned the series code LC 8, are not held at The National Archives.

Under The Theatres Act 1968 the Lord Chamberlain lost his powers in these areas, but, during the time he carried them out, the Home Office was responsible for representing him in Parliament. Following the Act, the Home Office continued its strategic role in licensing until the early years of the 21st century when responsibility for licensing policy was transferred to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Home Office records also deal with other regulatory matters such as safety aspects, Sunday observance, the obscenity laws and the employment of children.

Records	Record Series
Home Office: Entertainments, Theatres, Entry Books, 1910-1921	HO 179
Home Office: Entertainments Files, 1951-1977	HO 300
Home Office: Employment of Children Files, 1943-1974	HO 354
Home Office: Registered Papers, 1839-1979 (helpful keywords: entertainments and dangerous performances)	HO 45

[edit] Broadcasting

From its beginnings, broadcasting was the responsibility of the Post Office and remained so until 1969, when, under the Post Office Act, the Post Office ceased to be a government department, and responsibility for broadcasting was transferred to the newly created Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The Post Office continued, however, to act as the agent of the Ministry in some areas, such as the policing of radio interference.

In 1974 the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Dissolution) Order 1974/691 dissolved the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and its responsibility for broadcasting was transferred to the Home Office.

In 1983 the (second) Department of Trade and Industry was created and took over responsibility for certain aspects of the technical side of broadcasting from the Home Office. To these were added, in 1984, functions concerning the monitoring of wireless telegraphy and administrative responsibility for the Radio Interference Service (renamed the Radio Investigation Service), which were transferred from British Telecom (previously part of the Post Office). In 1990 the Radiocommunications Agency was formed as an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry to carry out its functions in relation to radio spectrum management. The Radiocommunications Agency ceased to exist following the Communications Act 2003, under which its activities were passed to the new body, Ofcom.

In 1992 the Department of National Heritage (DNH) was created. The responsibilites of the Home Office in relation to broadcasting were transferred to the new department. Some residual responsibilities were, however, retained by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Records	Record Series
Records of the Post Office, 1636-2000 (not held at The National Archives)	POST
Records of the Radio Regulatory Department, 1922-1992	HO 255
Records of the Broadcasting Department, 1928-1984	HO 256
Television Advisory Committees, 1933-1967	HO 258
Broadcasting Committee (1949-1950), 1949-1951	HO 254
Committee on Broadcasting (1960), 1960-1962	HO 244
Committee on Broadcasting Coverage, 1971-1974	HO 237
Committee on The Future of Broadcasting (1974-1977), 1974-1977	HO 245
Committee on Financing the BBC, 1985-1986	HO 327
Records of the Department of Trade and Industry	NK
Records of the Radiocommunications Agency	KS
Records of the Department of National Heritage, 1995-2001	PF

Many of the records held at The National Archives reflect Government's relations with the main licensing/broadcasting organisations, such as the BBC, the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority, the Independent Television Authority and its successors, and the Broadcasting Standards Commission and its predecessors. In the main these bodies are or have been independent of Government. However, they tend to act in accordance with broad requirements and objectives defined by legislation, or, in the case of the BBC, the Charter and Agreement, and to be answerable to some degree to Parliament. In addition, some receive direct funding. For example, the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority is currently partially funded by Government and the BBC World Service is partially funded under the aegis of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The bulk of these records may be found in the series detailed above, but, in addition, the following may prove useful.

Records held under department codes FO, FCO and CO - for the relationship between the Government and the BBC World Service.

Records held under department code T - for material concerning funding and financial control. Broadcasting was dealt with primarily by the Treasury Government and Allied Services Division (T 219) until 1962, when it became the responsibility of the Treasury Public Enterprises Department (T 319). In 1975 broadcasting was transferred from the Treasury Public Enterprises Department to the Treasury Home, Transport and Education Division.

Records of the Welsh Office, held under department code BD - for material relating to the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority.

NB Since the Communications Act 2003, a new body, Ofcom, has become the main licensing/regulatory body with regards to broadcasting.

The administrative records of the above mentioned organisations are not held at The National Archives. Nor are those of other broadcasters, but a keyword search of the Catalogue may bring up other relevant material.

[edit] Film

In 1918 the Board of Trade's Industries and Manufactures Department was formed. It became responsible for film.

In 1966 the Board of Trade established a new Film Branch to encourage the British industry. Responsibility for film was transferred from the Industries and Manufactures Department.

In 1970 the (first) Department of Trade and Industry was established. Its Film, Services, Distribution Division took over the responsibilities of the Board of Trade's Film Branch. In 1971 the Film, Services, Distribution Division was reorganized into the new Paper, Printing, Publishing, Services and Distribution Division.

In 1974 the (first) Department of Trade and Industry was split into the Department of Trade and the Department of Industry. The functions of the (first) Department of Trade and Industry's Paper, Printing, Publishing, Services and Distribution Division with regards to film went to the Department of Trade's Publishing, Tourism, Films and Distribution Division.

Records	Record Series
Industries and Manufactures Dept: Correspondence and Papers, 1919-1970	BT 64
Industries and Manufactures Dept: Out-letters, 1918-1921	BT 85
Industries and Manufactures Dept: Registered Files, 1887-1982	BT 258
Records of the Board of Trade Film Branch, 1966-1972	BT 335
Paper, Printing, Publishing, Services and Distribution Division, 1971-1979	FV 57
Publishing, Tourism, Films and Distribution Division, 1975-1980	FV 81
Records of the Department of Trade, 1974-1983	PJ

In 1983 the (second) Department of Trade and Industry was created. It took over responsibility for film from the Department of Trade. Records of the (second) Department of Trade and Industry are held under the department code NK.

It should be noted that, from 1965, when it acquired responsibility for the Arts, the Department of Education of Science, and later the Office of Arts and Libraries, took an interest in film, particularly film as an 'art form'. Formal responsibility does not appear to have been transferred, but there was definitely some coordination across the departments. See the series mentioned above under the above section on The Arts.

In 1992 the Department of National Heritage was created and all the Government's responsibilities in relation to film were transferred to the new department. The records of the Department of National Heritage (currently known as the Department of Culture, Media and Sport) are held under the department code PF.

Many of the records held at The National Archives reflect Government's relations with a wide variety of film-related bodies and institutions, many of which have received or still receive funding from it. These include, the British Film Institute, the Cinematograph Films Council, the National Film and Television School, the National Film Finance Corporation and the British Film Fund Agency.

The bulk of these may be found in the series detailed above, but, in addition, the following may prove useful.

Records held under references ED 236, ED 243 and BT 335/19-21 - for material concerning the National Film and Television School.

Records held under department code T - for material concerning funding in general.

The minutes of the British Film Fund Agency will be held in BT 383, but have not yet been transferred.

The National Archives do not hold the records of individual film companies and actors etc, but material relating to them may be found throughout its holdings. You can look for articles about actors in Category:Actors but a keyword search of the Catalogue on the relevant name is often the easiest way to start your research.

Finally, The National Archives also hold some records relating to the Government's role in licensing and regulation and the direct provision of film.

Although local government has historically been the main licensing body for film and cinema, the Home Office has taken an interest in other regulatory matters - see the series mentioned at the end of the above section on The Arts and, in addition, HO 265, the Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship, 1977-1981.

Local government also has some powers of censorship over film, although these are rarely used and all local authorities now act in the main in line with the decisions of the British Board of Film Censors (now the British Board of Film Classification). This is an independent body, which was established by the film industry in 1912.

In 1926 the Empire Marketing Board was established to promote the products of Empire. This included promotion through the making of films and the Board had its own film unit. In 1933 The new Public Relations Division of the Post Office took over the film unit from the Empire Marketing Board following its dissolution. Then, in 1940, the film unit was transferred to the Ministry of Information and became the Crown Film Unit. At the end of the Second World War, when the Ministry became the Central Office of Information, it continued under the direction of that department's Films Division. In 1952 it was disbanded and, since that time, the Films Division (renamed Films, Television and Newsreels Division in 1964 and the Films and Television Division in 1965) has commissioned outside film and television production companies to produce government sponsored films and commercials.

Records of the Empire Marketing Board, 1922-1939 are in CO 758-760 and CO 956.

Records of the Public Relations Department, 1906-2000 are in POST 108 (held at BT Archives).

Records of the Films and Television Divisions of the Central Office of Information, 1931-1997 are in INF 5, INF 6, INF 15, INF 16 and INF 17 (some held at the National Sound Archive).

[edit] Further reading

• HM Treasury, Government and the arts in Britain (London, 1958)
• HM Treasury, Government and the arts 1958-64 (London, 1964)
• Chris Clifford, Alistair McMullan and Iain McLean, The organisation of central government departments: a history 1964-92 (Oxford, 1997), I-III
• Hugh Jenkins, The culture gap: an experience of government and the arts (London, 1979)