Dr Elizabeth Shepherd, Professor Emerita of Archives and Records Management, Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL). Her research interests are in rights in records, information policy compliance, and government administrative data. She led the research project, MIRRA (Memory-Identity-Rights in Records-Access), which focused on information rights for care-experienced adults. She is an acknowledged expert on the history of the archive profession in 20th century England. She has published widely, including (with Geoffrey Yeo) the best-selling book Managing Records: a handbook of principles and practice (Facet Publishing, 2003) and the monograph, Archives and archivists in 20th Century England (Ashgate, 2009).

• 1. Beginnings; 2. Women’s education in England before 1920; 3. Women record agents; 4. Great Historical Enterprises: the Victoria County History of England and the Complete Peerage; 5. Women’s work in World War One; 6. Women, family, and friendships; 7. Life of Chaucer Project at the University of Chicago; 8. National Associations for Records Preservation and for Archivists; 9. Women Archivists I; 10. Women Archivists II; 11. Endings

A ground-breaking study of how women shaped the English archival profession and played formative roles in establishing key institutions despite their exclusion from permanent employment and advancement. At once a study of individual women and a compelling analysis of gender and work. Essential reading for those in archival fields.Professor Maryanne Dever, Western Sydney University, AustraliaThis meticulously researched exploration into the influential careers of four female archivists illuminates the development of the importance of women as a defining characteristic of the UK profession. Scholars in gender studies and the history of work will find much to reflect on here; archival practitioners will relish the contemporary resonances. Dr Margaret Procter, University of Liverpool, UK