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Historians
We are one of the few Whitehall departments to have in-house historians. These historians assist both the public and our staff. Their roles include:
- publishing the official record of post-war British foreign policy
- enhancing understanding of British foreign policy by publishing FCO historical papers and documents from the archives
- providing briefing support on historical issues for Ministers, senior officials and embassies
- organising occasional lectures and seminars
- managing the FCO’s internal history programme.
Official documents
We hold historical records for only 30 years. After this point they are transferred to The National Archives (TNA) in Kew where they are open for public inspection. Details of opening times and online catalogue are available at the TNA website.Documents less than 30 years old are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
If you have a query for our historians please read through our frequently asked questions first.
Recent and forthcoming publications
Documents on British Policy Overseas, Series III, Vol. VI, Berlin in the Cold War, 1948-1990 (London: Routledge, 2009) ISBN 978-0-415-44870-3Documents on British Policy Overseas, Series III, Vol. VII, German Unification, 1989-1990 (London: Routledge, 2009)
Slavery, Diplomacy and Empire: Britain and the suppression of the Slave Trade, 1807-1975 (Eastbourne: Sussex Academic Press, 2009) ISBN 978-1-84519-298-3 h/b
Britain in NATO: The First Six Decades (London: FCO, 2009) ISBN 1-905181-07-8 (This can be downloaded in full at our Britain in Nato page. Alternatively, free hard copies are available on request to the Historians Team)
The Slovenes in the Eyes of the Empire - Handbooks of the British Diplomats Attending the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 (Studia Diplomatica Slovenica, Centre for the European Perspective, 2007) ISBN 978-961-92173-1-3
Documents on British Policy Overseas (DBPO)
This major series contains documents from the archives of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Historical papers
Our historical papers cover subjects as diverse as Nazi gold, slavery and diplomacy and history of the FCO.
Documents from the Archives
FCO historians publish a number of historical documents from our substantial archives.
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Contact us
Chief Historian
Information Management Group
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
London SW1A 2PA
Email: historians@fco.gov.uk
Got a query?
See our Frequently asked questions.
