British Museum (Natural History): Central Administration: Director's Office: Case...

This series contains subject files opened by the Director and the Museum Secretary on a wide range of Museum matters, including the acquisition, exchange and disposal of collections, research projects, accommodation, exhibitions, expeditions, publications, relations with government departments, other organisations and with individuals, research projects, and wartime evacuation.

The filing system was set up in 1921 when it was decided to cease binding incoming papers into Reports and Letters volumes (DF 1000), and was administered by the Museum Secretary's staff, within the Directorate. Earlier papers were incorporated into a few files, but most date from 1921 or later.

When the registry was reorganised in 1972 it was reduced in scope as the Director began to keep his own files separately.

Copies of outgoing papers are present in most files, duplicating those held in DF 1001.

Arrangement of the registry was alphabetical by file title. The registry was reorganised in 1972, when alpha-numeric reference codes were used for the first time.

Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated