Vision: A facility ensuring the long-term survival and easy accessibility of all those records most important to the history and administration of the Falkland Islands.

Mission: To maintain and preserve the archives of the Falkland Islands in order that maximum use can be made of them and to promote the study of Falkland Islands history, directly supporting Islands Plan

The primary objective of the Falkland Islands Government in setting up the Archives was the preservation of existing, current and future Government records with the aim of making them easily accessible to facilitate the operation of government and to ensure the study and promotion of Falkland Islands history locally and internationally, and to raise awareness of the Islands.

The majority of the holdings are government records but with the change of the Archives into a National Archives it is now accepting those collections from the private sector and individuals which fit within its remit.

The opening hours for the Jane Cameron National Archives (excluding Public Holidays) are as follows:

The Archives will be closed on the following week days in 2024:

• Friday 29 March (Good Friday)

• Friday 14 June (Liberation Day)

• Monday 7 October (Peat Cutting Monday)

• Monday 9 December (in lieu of Battle Day)

• Wednesday 25 December - Wednesday 1 January 2025 (Christmas/Gov. holidays)

Reading Room Access

We have a dedicated Reading Room available to researchers with power points available for laptops and a computer station that can be used to access our website, the online collections and internet.The Reading Room also contains our reference library, containing published books and material relating to Falkland Islands history or related subject matter, which is free to browse.

We encourage Reading Room researchers to book their visit and order documents in advance.

This allows us to ensure that best use of your time with us can be made and that there will be space and resources available to you.  It also allows us to collate all the relevant records for your research and to advise if we will be closed or unavailable to facilitate your visit on a given day (for example due to any local public holidays).

All researchers are welcome to contact us prior to booking to check what records are available on their subject of research.

All researchers are also required to complete a researcher application form on the day of their appointment and to adhere to the Reading Room Regulations.

Research Application Reading Room Regulations.pdf172.87 KB

The majority of locally held Government records started with Governor Moody in 1841 and are reasonably complete, although some were lost or damaged in the Town Hall fire in 1944 and the Secretariat fire in 1959. Previous to the erection of a purpose-built building in 1998 the records were stored in various buildings and departments which were often unsecured and not ideal. Fortunately the climate of the Falkland Islands is cool and dry and there are no insects which damage or inhabit paper.

The Falkland Islands Government Archives building was purpose-built to meet the minimum requirements of the National Archives Standard for Record Repositories and was opened late 1998 to house government records.

The Government Archivist, Jane Cameron was passionate about the history of the Islands and worked to ensure the preservation of Government records and to make them accessible to all. After her tragic death in 2009 the archives was changed to a national archives in 2010 and re-named The Jane Cameron National Archives in her memory. Tansy Bishop, who had worked alongside Jane since 2001, became the National Archivist and supported the development and management of the collection until she left the Archives in July 2023. Chloe Anderson-Wheatley was appointed Corporate Records & National Archives Manager in November 2023.

The Jane Cameron National Archives has continued to expand the collections and to ensure the preservation and accessibility of records held in order that maximum use can be made of them. The Archives attract researchers globally and deal with a wide variety of research requests each year along with providing a Reading Room for those that choose to visit in person.

The National Archives can be reached walking on foot, or any private mode of transport (vehicle or bicycle). There are no buses or public transport in the Falkland Islands.

There is a small car park at the National Archives site which allows for two vehicles to use at any one time.

If you are walking to the Archives it takes approx. 10 minutes from centre of Stanley, walking West along Ross Road, turning up Holdfast Road and then right along Jeremy Moore Avenue. The building is white with a red roof.

Our address is: Jane Cameron National Archives, PO Box 579, Jeremy Moore Avenue, Stanley, Falkland Islands. FIQQ 1ZZ

To find our opening hours please see: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.fk/about-archives/opening-hours

You can also follow us Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JCNArchives