Biography
PERSONAL DETAILS
Sarah Tyacke CB, FSA, Hon.D.Litt.(London) F R Hist S (Hon VP), Hon D Phil (Guildhall and Essex)
Leverhulme Emeritus Research Fellow ( History of Cartography)2005-8 and Visiting
Professor Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL), Member of Council ( RHUL)
Distinguished Senior Research Fellow School of Advanced Study, University of
London Governor, London Metropolitan University.
Chair of the International Records Management Trust (IRMT), of the Harley Trustees
and of the Mount Everest Foundation ( MEF) 2009-11.
Former Chief Executive of The National Archives 1991( Dec)-2005 (Oct),
incorporating the posts of Keeper of Public Records and Chief Executive of the
Public Record Office from 1992 and, from April 2003, the Historical Manuscripts
Commissioner to establish The National Archives for
England and Wales and the UK government. Winner in 2004, as head of the new
National Archives, of the Longman - History Today award for the promotion of the
understanding of history. In July 2004 the National Archives also won the Pilgrim
Trust award for its digital archive which first took in digital records and objects in
a number of formats was able to preserve them over very long periods of time.
CAREER RESUME 1968-2005
Appointed Keeper of Public Records and Chief Executive of the Public Record
Office end 1991. From April 2003 also Historical Manuscripts Commissioner and
known as ‘Chief Executive of The National Archives.’ Brought forward national
archival legislation for consideration by ministers on the basis of public
consultation in 2003 and led the Electronic Document and Records Management (EDRMS) programme as part of the government’s e- government programme,
extended to the wider public sector and now reformulated. In consultation with others in
the library museum and archival sectors (MLA) a national archival strategy. Also
contributed to the implementation of Freedom of Information legislation in
respect of historical records and archives ( i.e. those over 30 years old) in
January 2005.
· Filled a wide range of additional senior posts in international and national
government and non-government organisations eg Vice- President of the
International Council on Archives (ICA) 1996-2000, Member of the National
Museums Directors Conference (NMDC) executive committee until 2001 and former
chair of the National Museums Learning and Education group, chaired the cross-
UK Government Inter-departmental Committee( IDAC) on Archival policy and other
related matters. Founding member and chair from 2004 of the expert group advising the
EU Commission on digital records management and archiving and access across the
EU ( known as the ‘DLM Forum’). Contributed to the strategic working party and
report for the EU on an Archival Strategy for the new enlarged European Union.
Led the digital ‘Moving Here’ programme, funded by the New Opportunities Fund (£2.5 million) for museums, archives and libraries and the national Access to
Archives (A2A) programme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund which widened
participation in archival study by the public.
· Set up and chaired the first European Board of the International Council of
Archives ( ICA) 1992 – 6 which at that time included the countries of Eastern Europe and the
new Russian Federation.
· Appointed Director of Special Collections ( Manuscripts, Maps, Music, Stamps
and the India Office Records and Library) British Library 1986-91, responsible
for 250 specialist and administrative staff.
· Seconded to British Library Chief Executive’s Office for management reviews of
operations, administration and staff in 1982, 1985 and 88. Undertook a Cabinet
Office efficiency scrutiny of British Library preservation in 1986.
· Became deputy Map Librarian, British Library 1973-85 combining specialist
activities, including publications and exhibitions, with general management
experience.
· Training and early career as Assistant Keeper in British Museum as a Map
Specialist and historian of exploration and travel.
· Past President and now a trustee of the Hakluyt Society (publisher of original
exploration journals), an honorary Vice-President of the Royal Historical
Society, former Council member of the Royal Geographical Society and of the
Society of Antiquaries and of the Society for Nautical Research.
· Written a number of books and articles on own specialism and articles on
archival matters and management, more recently concentrating on online access,
learning and access, training and continuous professional development and
legislative requirements in the archive and museum field, both nationally and
internationally see publications.
CAREER Highlights
Jan 1992 to date
· Brought in the new management structures, systems (eg financial, personnel)
and working practices to the PRO according to Agency principles following the
1991 Scrutiny. A charter mark organisation since 1999
· Built the new building at Kew ( on time and to budget) 1995. Awarded various
prizes for the construction and environment improvements
· Consolidated the staff and collections at Kew 1996. HMC staff all incorporated
Dec 2003.
· Established the Family Record Centre in 1997 as a ‘one-stop shop’ with the
Office of National Statistics for family historians (150,000 approx reader
visits a year).
Front line staff were also awarded a prize in the Civil Service competition
‘Business Matters’ and were invited to Number 10 to meet the Prime Minister in
1997.
· Established the UK data archive for Government digital datasets in partnership
with London University Computing Centre 1997.
· Launched the online educational service and ‘The Learning Curve’ online
galleries for schools in England and Wales 1998. At present has won 4 awards and
is used across the country by teachers and school children and is a registered
provided of material for Curriculum Online. ( DfES sponsored)
· Put 9 million PRO catalogue entries (‘metadata’) on to the Internet 1999
onwards as part of the ‘Modernising Government’ agenda.
· Advised ministers on the record and archive implications of Freedom of
Information, Data Protection, Welsh Devolution, the waiving of Crown Copyright
in unpublished public records etc. 1997 onwards; set up the National Advisory
Service for regional and local government and related public sector bodies 2003
( HMC and PRO components).
· Launched a public consultation document on new records and archival
legislation 2003
· Set up and chaired (1995) the Government’s first Interdepartmental Committee
on digital records (EDRMS), to enable ministries and agencies to store and
access digital public records ( ie departmental records needed for long term
historical use) by 2004 and thereafter.
· Set up and chaired the Government’s first Interdepartmental Committee on
archival matters, (IDAC) 1997- 2005.
· Launched (with Quinetic) the 1901 census website of some 32 million entries as
a pay-per-view service digitally onto the web in 2002. The technical infrastructure was
unable to take the demand and it took 6 months to get it sorted. But the site was then
a great success and followed by Documents Online and a number of other innovative
digital services for the public worldwide.
Work in the British Museum and Library
July 1986-Dec 1991 Director of Special Collections, British Library
· Responsible for the Western Manuscript collections, the India Office and
Records, the Oriental manuscripts and printed books, the Map and Music Libraries
and the Philatelic collections and for 250 staff on two sites. Budget £7m
· Set up the new department from the various separate groups, established
cost-centre accounting and a director’s board comprising the heads of the
groups.
· Undertook a review of the administration of the British Library with a
colleague from MOD, which recommended the centralisation of the administration
across the BL, thus cutting local administrative offices.
· Set up the automated cataloguing system for Manuscripts and chaired the
Divisional IT committee for London Services
· Responsible for acquiring external funds to purchase manuscripts, maps etc of
world class for the collections. In 1991 succeeded in acquiring £1m to purchase
the Eighteenth Century Trumbell papers and the Hadyn London Symphonies, assisted
by the relevant specialists.
· Vice-Chair of the International Federation of Library Association Professional
Board 1986-90
1973- 1986 Deputy Map librarian
· Responsible for the automated cataloguing programme, which I introduced, the
purchase of antiquarian maps via private treaty or auction with the Map
Librarian, for the exhibition programme with the Map Librarian (one major one a
year eg Copernicus and the New Astronomy 1973, Drake 1977, in the Kings Library
of the British Museum) and for the staff and management in the absence on the
Map Librarian.(eg 3 months 1974). Also responsible for the planning of the new
Map Room in the new British Library now opened!
· Seconded to Management 1982. As part of career development undertook a review
of staff numbers of the whole of the BL London Division and recommended the
reduction of the staff from about 1100 to 900. This was carried out.
· 1985 seconded to the Chief Executive’s Office to undertake a Scrutiny under
the Cabinet Office Efficiency Unit, of the Preservation Services of the BL.
These were on a number of sites and included a Bindery whose staff were SOGAT
members. Devised a way of prioritising the work to be done and the methods to be
used and the monitoring necessary to ensure it was and at what cost. Some
resistance was encountered but eventually most of the recommendations were
accepted and implemented by the Head of the Preservation Service. My report was
well received in the Efficiency Unit, and was published internally by the
British Library.
1968-1973 Assistant Keeper, Map Room British Museum
Appointed AK II by Civil Service Commission in 1968 and allocated to the Map
Room.
Trained in cataloguing, map and book specialisms, exhibition preparation, public
service, public speaking and writing, publications and all aspects of museum
curator-ship.
Also Editor of the British Museum Bulletin for the Friends
Prepared own first major exhibition in 1973 for the anniversary of Copernicus’s
death ‘ Copernicus and the New Astronomy’ exhibited in the King’s Library
British Museum with accompanying published booklet.
Education
BA Hist Hons 2nd Class Bedford College, London University 1968
Chelmsford County High School -Vice School Captain
Council for World Citizenship (CEWC) prize essay- visit to the Ruhr as part of
European Schools study visit. 1963
Taught at a local primary school 1964 and worked as a volunteer in the Essex
Record Office and its education and exhibition out station at Ingatestone Hall
1962-68 in vacations
Professional qualifications/memberships
Companion of the Bath, 1998.
Honorary Fellow and Visiting Professor of Royal Holloway London University1999-
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society 1968-
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries 1984-
Fellow of the Royal Historical Society 1992- : Vice President 2000-03; Honorary
Vice-President 2004-
Fellow of the British Cartographic Society 1994-
President of the Hakluyt Society 1997-2002; Vice-President 2002-6;Trustee 2006-
Trustee of the Mappa Mundi 1988-94
Director of Imago Mundi 1980-
A Trustee of the Harley awards in the History of Cartography 1990-; chair 2006-
A Trustee of the International Records Management Trust 1995-2004; Chair April
2004 -
Top Management Programme (Senior Civil Service) (31) 1992
Speaker at the Windsor Leadership Trust November 2003.
Languages
French: good spoken and reading, reasonable written; Spanish
Latin: reasonable-reading, Greek, German: limited spoken
Italian: limited to reading with a dictionary
IT Awareness
Windows Office 2003 and Advanced Word 2003
Power-point
Microsoft FrontPage & HTML
Excel
Personal details
Born Chelmsford 29.9.45
Married one daughter
The Reform and other dining clubs
The sea, travel, hill and mountain walking, painting, reading and
writing.