Global Project on the History of Leprosy


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You are here - Preserve Your Archives For your eyes only

Leprosy Archives - Preserve Them!

Introduction Why bother? What are archives? Who cares? Sort it out! Now what?
The basics For your eyes only Who will give advice? Acid free paper suppliers Acknowledgements

For your eyes only

There is frequently correspondence or documentation such as case notes, which is of a sensitive nature.

This may be due to:

comments on colleagues, relations or friends
individual sensitivity such as medical information/relationships with others/compromising information
semi-official business of outside organisations
relations with government or other organisations which may contain confidential information

The first reaction may be to destroy this, but it is better to discuss the problem with an archivist or records manager who will be used to dealing with this kind of material.

Bear in mind that with the passage of time even very confidential matters become less sensitive. It is preferable to plan restricted access or closure periods, if necessary, than to destroy evidence forever. Many public organisations operate a closure period of 25-30 years before information, which has not already been in the public domain, can be seen by researchers. Information about the health of individuals may well be kept closed for a longer period. If material is to be deposited elsewhere, it should be discussed with the archivist who will have responsibility for administering the access rules.

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Page last updated 22 July 2003