In the 1830s, a dead rat with a stomach full of chewed up documents was discovered by Sir Henry Cole FRSA. Henry was responsible for overseeing the transfer of historical documents to the newly established Public Records Office. He was shocked at the poor condition of the country’s most important documents.
He used the rat to demonstrate the importance of better document storage and preservation.
The very same rat can still be viewed in the collection of The National Archives in London.
Conditions may have improved since the 1800s, but the risks of physical document storage are still of concern. Digitisation reduces damage, loss, and destruction risks, while enabling faster, easier access to information. Digitisation is an essential tool for safeguarding and ensuring access to historical documents.
Speak to the team today to find out how we can keep your most important documents safe.