Over the past ten years the attention given in British universities to the study of southern Africa has grown rapidly. In 1969 a symposium held under the auspices of the African Studies Association of the United Kingdom (ASAUK) to review the state of current work on southern Africa in Britain and in Africa itself revealed the diversity of research in progress, as well as practical and political problems involved in such research.

British Archives is the foremost reference guide to archive resources in the UK. Since publication of the first edition more than ten years ago, it has established itself as an indispensable reference source for everyone who needs rapid access on archives and archive repositories in this country. Over 1200 entries provide detailed information on the nature and extent of the collection as well as the organization holding it. A typical entry includes: name of repositiony; parent organization ; address, telephone, fax, email and website; number for enquiries; days and hours of opening; access restrictions; acquisitions policy; archives of organization; major collections; non-manuscript material; finding aids; facilities; conservation; publications New to this edition: email and web address; expanded bibliography; consolidated repository and collections index

Since it was first published in 1982 British Archives has established itself as the premier reference work to holdings of archives and manuscript collections throughout the UK. The 3rd edition has been extensively revised and enlarged with more than 150 new entries, further widening the range of the book. Entries are structured to show the archives of the organisation as distinct from deposited collections and significant non-manuscript material, and additional details of fax number and conservation provision are included for the first time. All the existing entries have been significantly updated, together with the select bibliography and list of useful addresses of various organisations involved in the care and custody of archives. The introduction provides an invaluable guide to researchers using archives, including a summary of the relevant legislation and a detailed description of the usual holdings of county and other local authority record offices.

Over the past ten years the attention given in British universities to the study of southern Africa has grown rapidly. In 1969 a symposium held under the auspices of the African Studies Association of the United Kingdom (ASAUK) to review the state of current work on southern Africa in Britain and in Africa itself revealed the diversity of research in progress, as well as practical and political problems involved in such research.