On Thursday 16 April, the Royal Historical Society co-hosted the annual ‘History and Archives Practice’ (HAP) conference.
This year’s conference took as its theme: ‘Shaping Societies, Improving Lives: the Impact of Archives and Historical Research’.
A partnership of The National Archives, Royal Historical Society, and the Institute of Historical Research, ‘History and Archives in Practice’ is where historians and archivists come together to consider shared interests in archive collections, their interpretation and use.
Every other year we partner with a UK archive or institution which similarly specialises in the bringing together of archivists and researchers. For HAP2026, we were delighted to partner with the University of Sheffield Library and members of their Special Collections, Heritage and Archives team.
On Thursday 16 April 2026, the Royal Historical Society co-hosted the annual ‘History and Archives in Practice’ conference (HAP). This year’s conference, held at the University of Sheffield, took the theme of ‘Shaping Societies, Improving Lives: the Impact of Archives and Historical Research’.
A partnership of The National Archives, Royal Historical Society, and the Institute of Historical Research, ‘History and Archives in Practice’ is where historians and archivists come together to consider shared interests in archive collections, their interpretation and use.
Every other year we partner with a UK archive or institution which similarly specialises in the bringing together of archivists and researchers. For HAP2026, we joined with the University of Sheffield Library and members of their Special Collections, Heritage and Archives team.
Archives are both shaped by and shape the communities and societies in which they exist and serve. HAP26 explored the relationship between collections, researchers, practice and locality to consider how archives have the potential to challenge the status quo and initiate change through collaboration and co-production.
Frith Hall, University of Sheffield.
Hosted at the University of Sheffield’s Frith Hall, our vibrant conference saw historians, archivists, community organisers and postgraduate students gather to discuss how local archives and collections are bringing historical research into active dialogue with communities.
Participants represented more than 30 archives, museums and universities from across the UK which highlighted current projects in which historians and archivists collaborate to effect social change.
Over the day, more than 120 attendees participated in 15 panels, workshops, displays and tours by 40 historians and archivists. Participants represented 30 archives, museums and universities from across the UK which highlighted current projects in which historians and archivists collaborate to effect social change.
Speakers included, among others, representatives from the universities of Lincoln, Portsmouth, Southampton and Strathclyde; archivists from Barts NHS Trust, Haringey Archives, and the Modern Records Centre, Warwick; and curators from the Tate, Imperial War Museum, and Hackney Museum.
Yorkshire-based partnerships were well-represented, with presentations from historians and archivists from the universities of Sheffield, Leeds and York, and collections at the Hull History Centre, Borthwick Institute, Heritage Quay, Huddersfield, and Sheffield City Archives, among others.
Panels addressed a wide range of themes including: ‘Navigating the Politics of/within the Archive’, ‘Working Together to Drive Change: From Collaboration to Co-production’ and ‘Participatory Approaches: Meaningful Engagement and Lived Experience.’
Several panels considered the ways in which archives contribute to present-day campaigns for social change and practices of civic engagement. Others considered the ways that archive collections may be used to inform and improve learning resources for teachers and school-age learners.
On the day after HAP26, the government published its ‘Vision for Archives in England’ … participants at HAP26 spoke powerfully and eloquently to this theme, and we hope their projects and good practice are recognised.
On the day after HAP26, the government published its ‘Vision for Archives in England’ which speaks of ‘the integral role of archives at the heart of society’, and archives’ (and archivists’) role in supporting social justice, community, civic identity and democracy. The participants at HAP26 spoke powerfully and eloquently to this theme, and we hope their projects and good practice are recognised.
RHS President Professor Lucy Noakes and RHS Councillor Dr Jesús Sanjurjo
In her closing conference remarks, the Society’s President Professor Lucy Noakes said:
Our focus this year has been on the multiple ways that archives and historical practice more widely can shape and benefit wider society.
It is a necessary focus at the moment as the work of historians, whether in universities like this, archives, and the wider community, feels undervalued and under threat, as resources are cut again and again, and while recent decades have delivered a welcome democratisation of history, we risk a future in which access to historical training and resources becomes, once again, the preserve of an elite.
This, as has been demonstrated again and again today, would be a mistake. Historical practice has the power to transform lives and shape societies. Collaborations between archivists, curators, community and third sector groups and academic historians support individual and collective wellbeing.
We are very grateful to our partners at the National Archives, the Institute of Historical Research and the University of Sheffield Library for the dedicated work undertaken to draw this conference together, and for their shared commitment to addressing these important themes.
We also thank the conference attendees who took part in and contributed to HAP26, and who recognise the important work that is being undertaken to connect historical research, archives and communities across the UK.
We will be continuing the discussion on ‘Shaping Societies, Improving Live’ with a series of online presentations in the summer. Further details of these will be announced shortly.
In due course, we also look forward to sharing further details of ‘History and Archives in Practice’ 2027. HAP27, held in London at the Institute of Historical Research and Senate House, will take place on 28 April 2027.
