What are Archives?

The story of us is hidden all around. Waiting to be told by those curious to dig a little deeper… 

In archives across Wales, stories are waiting to be discovered. Stories about our ancestors, our communities, the places we’ve lived or would like to call home. 

Archives can tell us what people and organisations did, how and why they did it, and often what they thought. They help us understand where we come from and who we have been. Archives connect us to the past and bring history to life. They help us make decisions and influence our future. 

Anyone can visit an archive. You don’t need to be a researcher, or an ‘expert’. You just need to be curious.  

Archives are collections of information, known as records. We all create records in our everyday lives. Some records are important to us, and we keep them for as long as necessary before they are discarded; some we decide to keep forever, and these become our archives.  

The millions of unique items that survive are protected and safeguarded by our dedicated archives and records teams across Wales. You might call them the ‘story keepers’. Every day, they select, collect and preserve information for use now and by future generations.  

Records can be any age and take many forms. They can be handwritten on parchment, typewritten on paper, scribbled in a notebook, or embroidered on cloth. They can be photographs, technical drawings, sketches or maps. They can be digital or analogue sound, video, images or data captured in different formats, from floppy disks to floating online in ‘the cloud’. Each archive service holds an average of 695 cubic metres of archives – that’s enough to fill about 7 double-decker buses!   

Archives come in all different shapes and sizes: as part of local authorities, universities or as independent organisations. Some archives are long-established institutions; some were formed in recent years. Others are yet to be created. Collectively, we share the same goal: to help you to find what you’re looking for. 

Archives are for everyone – what will you discover? 

Don’t just take our word for it: 98% of visitors to Welsh archives agree they have a greater understanding of their community, its history and people from using archives. Here’s what comes to mind for some of our users when they hear the word ‘archive’: 

Wonder, joy, mysteries, and happiness. A place filled with so many worlds to explore and stories to tell. 
An embarrassment of riches. 
Magic waiting to happen.  
A place to look for answers. 
Delight.  

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘archive’?