# Event Details - **Event Name**: Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records - **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 23 Apr, 2026 at 02:00 pm – Tue, 28 Apr, 2026 at 05:00 pm - **Event Description**: A one-and-a-half day workshop designed for researchers interested in working with records from the Foreign Office.About this EventAt The National Archives you can access Foreign Office records that were once working documents including correspondence from diplomats, policy discussions, research papers, maps and international treaties. Our collections offer unique scope in global history from the perspective of the British government, however, many of these records are not easy to find via keyword searches in our catalogue. Efficient research requires developing an understanding of former bureaucratic practices in the Foreign Office, the structure of government, and how these have impacted the organisation of the archive today.This workshop will focus on researching using our collections effectively. This includes:Part 1 (online on Microsoft Teams/half day 23rd April)· Tips and tricks for using our online catalogue, Discovery, effectively· Insight into the ways in which records at The National Archives mirror the structures and activities of government departments· Overview of some key document types in our international record collections· Exploring what research into international collections can currently be carried out online (without visiting our reading rooms)Part 2 (onsite/full day 28th April)· An introduction to the processes of ordering and handling documents and using the reading room· Looking at key records and record-keeping practices as reflected in the archive· Working with the indexes and registers (registry systems) that are required to navigate Foreign Office correspondence records from 1782-1960.This workshop is part of The National Archives PAST (Practical Archival Skills Training) programme. It is designed to be valuable for researchers and practitioners in any field who are interested in British diplomatic history and international relations.This includes those who have never worked with archives before, and those who have previous experience but wish to improve their archival research skills and understanding of the collections.Please note: it is necessary to attend the half-day online session to get the full benefit of the workshop.Both the online and the onsite components are included in the cost of this ticket, you don’t need to book them separately.If you only wish to attend the online component of the workshop please book here instead: - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/richmond/practical-archival-skills-training-introduction-to-foreign-office-records/100001743611562119 - **Event Categories**: workshops, virtual - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 30, max: 30, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: Richmond - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: The National Archives - **lat**: 51.481465 - **long**: -0.28007100000002083 - **full address**: The National Archives, Bessant Drive, Richmond, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/4ba3f932d0f75dd550ddda7b0235fabb23f7ca4e29d6738486e9e30b7110f80a-rimg-w1200-h529-dcf0eede-gmir.jpg?v=1762624019 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records being held? - **A:** Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records takes place on Thu, 23 Apr, 2026 at 02:00 pm to Tue, 28 Apr, 2026 at 05:00 pm at The National Archives, Bessant Drive, Richmond, United Kingdom. - **Q**: Who is organizing Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records? - **A:** Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records is organized by The National Archives: for academic and research communities. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Richmond, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Practical Archival Skills Training: Introduction to Foreign Office Records", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/4ba3f932d0f75dd550ddda7b0235fabb23f7ca4e29d6738486e9e30b7110f80a-rimg-w1200-h529-dcf0eede-gmir.jpg?v=1762624019", "startDate": "2026-04-23", "endDate": "2026-04-28", "url": "https://allevents.in/richmond/practical-archival-skills-training-introduction-to-foreign-office-records/100001743611562119", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "The National Archives", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Bessant Drive", "postalCode": "TW9 4DU", "addressLocality": "Richmond", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "51.481465", "longitude": "-0.28007100000002083" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "A one-and-a-half day workshop designed for researchers interested in working with records from the Foreign Office.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-07-14", "availabilityEnds": "2026-04-28", "validFrom": "2026-07-14", "lowPrice": "30.00", "highPrice": "30.00", "price": "30.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/richmond/practical-archival-skills-training-introduction-to-foreign-office-records/100001743611562119" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-07-14", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-07-14", "url": "https://allevents.in/richmond/practical-archival-skills-training-introduction-to-foreign-office-records/100001743611562119", "price": "30.00", "name": "Student" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The National Archives for academic and research communities", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/the-national-archives-for-academic-and-research-communities/22594919", "description": "The National Archivesis the official archive and publisher for the UK government, and for England and Wales. We are the guardians of some of our most iconic national documents, dating back over 1,000 years." } ] } ] ```