Parliamentary Archives' Conservation Policy

The NSW Parliament's 'Archives Policy', says, in part, that:

"The Parliament of NSW will preserve the archival records of the Legislative Council, the Legislative Assembly, and the associated administrative and service departments connected with them"

and that

"The Parliamentary Archivist will supervise conservation services and facilities to ensure the permanent preservation of the archives in accordance with [the above]"

In accordance with this principle, a certain sum is spent from the Archives Budget every year on Conservation and Conservation Stores.

THE CONSERVATORS:
The Parliamentary Conservation Consultant is Heather McPherson Ltd; and the Conservation Laboratory is located at 25 Hurst Street, Goulburn NSW 2580

We also use International Conservation Services, 53 Victoria Road, Chatswood NSW 2067 for some specialised services.

CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES:
These principles are to be observed by the conservators.
1. All archives are to be placed in acid-free envelopes before boxing (not wrapped in acid-free paper).
2. All large (ie over standard-box size) items are to be extracted; Extraction Sheets are provided to the conservators for this purpose.
3. Maps, plans, photographs and large extracted single sheets are to be encapsulated after they are extracted.
4. Large multiple-sheet extracted bundles are to be placed in custom-made (if necessary) boxes or envelopes (according to situation).

CONSERVATION PRIORITY LIST:
PRIORITY 1: Any archives with a high degree of physical deterioration; in the order in which they are found.
PRIORITY 2: The archives of the first Legislative Council, in chronological order.
PRIORITY 3: The Tabled Papers of both Houses, in chronological order.
PRIORITY 4: The other Chamber Records of both Houses, in chronological order.
PRIORITY 5: The nineteenth-century Office Records of both Houses, in chronological order.
PRIORITY 6: The nineteenth-century archives of the ancillary Parliamentary Departments, in deterioration order.
PRIORITY 7: The post-nineteenth-century Office Records of both Houses, in deterioration order.
PRIORITY 8: The post-nineteenth-century archives of the ancillary Parliamentary Departments, in deterioration order.

Last modified 26/02/2008 11:12:56 : Update this page