Christ Church Archives were accredited in July.  The Archive Service Accreditation scheme, launched in 2013, is the UK standard for archive services, and is administered by a partnership of the National Archives, the national archive bodies of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and the Archives and Records Association (the UK professional body for archivists and records managers). 

The application form is long and complex, covering all aspects of an archival service. The paper application is followed up by an on-site validation visit (taking the best part of a day) from a member of the Accreditation Committee and a peer reviewer, whose report is then assessed by the Committee.

The Committee decides whether the applicant has reached a nationally-agreed standard in its collections care and development, catalogues, policies, procedures, forward planning, accessibility, outreach, buildings and storage conditions, and the level of support from the institution’s governing body.   

Christ Church is only the third Oxford college to achieve accredited status (New College and Lincoln College were given the accolade earlier this year), and it is testament to the support of colleagues, both senior members (especially the Dean and the Treasurer, who gave their time to talk with the validation team) and staff (particularly the House Surveyor, the Clerk of Works, and the housekeeping team, who keep the building in such a wonderful condition), and to alumni who are marvellous in their generosity to the archive, that we have achieved this.

Judith Curthoys, Archivist and Data Protection Compliance Manager