At the moment, there are a variety of documents in various places in this country relating to the establishment, management, strategy, publicity and workshops of ALSPAC. The Wellcome Trust approached me some months ago in regard to the possibility of archiving all the material from 1985 to 2005 inclusive. I've now had a detailed discussion with Tim Powell, the archivist recommended by the Trust. He then approached the University of Bristol Library who are keen to hold the archived records.

As part of the discussion, it become obvious that archiving could not happen without a detailed documentation and assessment of the various documents available. In brief, the view was that historians would be interested in the following:

* Correspondence with parents

* Correspondence with collaborators and potential collaborators

* Correspondence with members of the public

* Correspondence with funders - including failed & successful grants

* Development of instruments & validation

* Sub-projects

* Publicity (including press releases, cuttings, posters, etc)

* Slides and power point presentations

* Minutes of internal meetings as well as of Advisory Committees and Workshops

There are a number of other sources of information that may be acquired, included records from the University Finance Department, the Vice-Chancellor's records, those of various funders etc.

This is a preliminary list. There are a number of sets of documents in different parts of the country, concerning the early genetic side of the study held by Marcus Pembrey, early records of the Ethics Committee held in a basement by Elizabeth Mumford, major informtion concerning many of the sub-studies which are held by collaborators such as Judy Dunn (London), Susan Golombok (Cambridge), Marian Jongmans (the Netherlands), Gideon Lack (London), Richard Ashcroft (Cambridge).

The project will use a senior member of staff (Karen Birmingham) employed half time within CCAH for 12 months.

Much of this is under discussion at the moment, but an outline for a scoping study to investigate the whereabouts and possbilities inherent is warranted. It is proposed that this scoping study should start early November if at all possible. The project will work with Iain Bickerstaffe in regard to aspects that are related to his expertise and responsibility as well as various members of ALSPAC who have old records.

The project should result in major benefit to ALSPAC in that all information will be documented and held in one place, available to be accessed by ALSPAC staff and collaborators as well as others interested in the history and development of the project.