Archive Research & Photography

I offer archive research and document photography at The National Archives, National Army Museum, British Library, and Imperial War Museum – plus other archives across London and south-east England – alongside digitisation of privately held material.

As a military historian, I work regularly with archival sources and understand both their value and the practical challenges involved in accessing them. These services offer a straightforward and reliable way of obtaining historical material, whether held in public archives or private collections.

Archive Research & Photography

I carry out in-person visits to archives across London and the south-east, photographing material in I carry out in-person visits to archives across London and south-east England, working in accordance with each archive’s guidelines and restrictions.

A visit covers either onsite research into a specified subject or individual, or photography of already-identified material – depending on what you need.

Work is booked by the hour, so the time can be scaled to suit your request – from a short, tightly focused visit to a more in depth project covering a large amount of material. Service typically includes:

  • Onsite research or photography
  • Research into individuals or military events
  • File organisation and supply as clearly labelled PDF files, with OCR processing where possible
  • Typically 100+ images per hour when copying documents (depending on file condition)

From £40 per hour, plus travel expenses (London and south-east England). The exact rate depends on the nature of the work – research and photography are costed slightly differently – and I’ll confirm this with you before booking, along with an estimate of the time involved.

For archives outside this area, travel costs and expenses will be quoted separately in advance.

If you only need a small number of already-identified documents, it may be possible to accommodate your request within a visit already planned to that archive. Get in touch to discuss.

Who This is For

These services may be useful for:

  • Family history and genealogy research
  • Military history enquiries
  • Academic projects
  • Military history enquiries
  • Researchers based outside the UK
  • Those unable to visit archives in person
  • Individuals looking to digitise personal collections

How it Works

  1. Send me details of what you’re looking for – archive references if you have them, or a description of the subject or individual you’re researching
  2. I’ll assess your request and confirm whether it fits within a standard session, and advise on likely sources if references aren’t yet known
  3. I visit the archive and photograph or research the material
  4. You receive clearly organised PDF files, typically within a few days of the visit

Important Information

  • All archive photography is carried out in line with archive rules and restrictions
  • These services are intended for personal research and reference use
  • Larger or more time-intensive requests may require a separate quote

Enquires

To get started, please send:

  • Archive references (if known)
  • A brief description of your request
  • Any relevant deadlines

I’ll respond to confirm availability and outline next steps.