With the 1982 Thatcher material being released this week, there has been quite a bit of admin work to do on the files in the run up.
1. Labelling the files. All 90 boxes worth of them.
2. Sorting out the boxes
The files have been put into order (with the exception of a few stragglers) and shifted around so that no box is overfull when others are practically empty. And then …
3. …More labelling – the boxes this time
4. Making and adding surrogates
In some cases, Data Protection requires that certain items are redacted, or if the documents are simply of poor quality, Photoshop wizardry is used to make them legible, or copies are acquired from versions in the National Archives. The new copies are printed onto acid-free paper and slipped into place in the files.
5. Moving
The boxes are moved out of our New Wing and into the main Strong Room, ready and waiting to be used.
Francesca Alves.
Tags: Margaret Thatcher