The National Jazz Archive is the UK’s premier research and information centre for the history of jazz and related music. It is freely available to all who wish to explore its collections for inspiration, education and learning, and enjoyment.
Our holdings comprise comprehensive book and periodical collections, personal archive collections, concert brochures and posters, photographs, correspondence, audio-visual materials and a wide variety of jazz related ephemera and memorabilia.
The National Jazz Archive is a recognised UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation formally registered with The Charity Commission (Registration No. 1195381) and with HMRC for Gift Aid and other benefits.
Mission
The mission of the Archive is to document, preserve and make accessible the past, present and future of jazz and related music.
Objectives
The objectives of The National Jazz Archive are to:
• Collect materials documenting the UK’s jazz heritage
• Preserve our holdings to professional standards
• Develop more representative and inclusive collections
• Facilitate the study of jazz history, heritage and culture
• Engage a wide range of communities through our collections and activities
Scope of the collections
The National Jazz Archive has a national remit and collects materials documenting all aspects of the UK’s jazz heritage.
We do recognise that UK jazz sits within an international context and therefore we will collect and hold UK-relevant material from other countries. The materials collected span the complete history of jazz up to the present day.
When selecting new items for the collection we consider the potential for research, education at all levels, and our widening participation programme. There are also commercial considerations that may also be taken into account as part of that assessment.
We seek to acquire the widest possible range of UK-jazz related materials to engage with and inspire all of our audiences.
We aim to collect with due regard to other institutions that actively acquire materials, and we seek to work cooperatively with other national, regional and local repositories.[1]
We will collect original manuscript scores or scores in the process of composition, as they represent evidence of a musician’s life and work. When assessing completed scores, we consider the context, provenance and research value, in line with our selection criteria.
We may keep original manuscripts within the Archive or suggest a relevant depository where they can be used to best advantage. All transfers are fully documented.
We recognise the importance of oral history in the communication of jazz history and ideas and its ability to bring history to life through narrative stories and anecdotes. We aim to build a collection of oral histories in line with our objectives.
We will collect 3-dimensional objects such as musical instruments and personal effects. On offer or receipt of a donation, we will consider relevant potential deposits on an individual basis and assess them based on their value for research and the study of jazz history and music.
We will collect original unpublished sound recordings a will work closely with the British Library Sound Archive, which collects records, CDs, tapes and videos.
We have a video/DVD collection and will collect jazz recorded on film.
We will collect and retain selected published recordings in any format related to UK jazz where their heritage value is in line with our mission and objectives
Formats collected
The National Jazz Archive collects anything that is written, produced and or manufactured about or relates to the story of jazz or blues, whether published, in draft manuscript or in completed form.
This includes original (not copies of) personal and organisational archives, books, periodicals (including non-English language journals), scores, concert brochures and programmes, posters and other advertising material, letters, photographs, artistic material such as drawings, material related to broadcasting and discography, and any memorabilia, artifacts and ephemera with jazz associations.
We will collect selected published recordings of commercially released jazz music on acetate, tape, wax and in any other commercially released format where individual or complete collections are of heritage value.
We work to a separate Digital Archive Management process and will accept, assess, retain and/or dispose of digital only assets in line with that policy in line with this general policy.
Appraisal, de-accession and disposal of materials
We encourage potential donors to gift materials to help support the Archive’s mission. We appraise donated materials to assess their relevance, historical value, and the extent of any duplication with our existing collections.
Collections will be curated before accessioning in line with our objectives. We do not normally keep multiple duplicates of printed material such as records, CD’s books, magazines, or concert brochures.
Duplicate items or others items within a donation that are not in keeping with this policy that are not deem relevant, suitable or required by the Archive, may be disposed of and may be sold to raise funds for the Archive, with the prior written agreement of the depositor.
We welcome donations of commercially available recordings that can be licenced and/or sold, to financially support the day-to-day operations of the Archive.
De-accessioning items – particularly those that are non-jazz items - will be considered where they no longer meet the criteria for acquisitions following a review of said item(s) or should there be a change of this collections policy.
De-accessioning items may be disposed of as donations to other collection holders including archives, libraries, museums or cultural centre or disposed of commercially to generate income.
Selection criteria
To qualify for inclusion in our collections an item or work must meet at least one, and preferably
more than one of the following criteria:
• Historical – the item contributes significantly to the history or appreciation of jazz; it provides evidence of the development of jazz music; or has significant value as a representation of social, cultural or political events as they relate to jazz and related music;
• Impact – collections of individuals or organisations which had a significant impact on UK jazz, locally, nationally, or internationally;
• Technical – the work illustrates development of musical technique, exemplifies the jazz idiom and increases the understanding of the development of jazz in all its variations;
• Completion – the item completes or enhances the value of materials already in our collections;
• Uniqueness – particular value will be placed on items that are unique;
• Research – particular value will be placed on items with research potential.
The National Jazz Archive has a formal acquisition form, which is used to help assess the relevance and importance of a collection.
Preservation
The National Jazz Archive considers preservation and access to be equally important.
Measures will be taken to protect items from damage or loss. In some cases, copies will be made in order to meet access requirements and to reduce the risk of loss or damage to preserved material.
We seek to widen access by a programme of digitisation, prioritising key collections and materials that are highly used or in vulnerable condition.
Access
The Archive aims to make accessible as much material as possible within the limits of copyright and preservation restrictions.
This will include exhibiting materials at the Archive, in public and private venues and providing an online catalogue, a research room facility, and volunteering opportunities.
Methods of acquisition
The National Jazz Archive encourages the gifting or bequest of material by organisations and individuals.
Under some circumstances it may be possible to accept material deposited on loan.
Purchase of items of national and international significance will be considered in line with the Charity’s finance policies.
Subject to own available finances, donated financial bequests from individuals, corporations and institutions and other philanthropic sources and with approval from The Trustees, we will also consider direct purchase of an item, items or whole collections if materials were in keeping with this policy.
Copyright and rights
The National Jazz Archive seeks to acquire materials with minimum restrictions on use.
Uses may include research, education, exhibition, and online access. It may also mean commercial interests, where appropriate.
Depositors who own the copyright of material which they are depositing as a gift are asked to complete a form formally and legally assigning copyright to the Archive. Gifting the copyright allows us to use the materials to the best advantage and may enable us to gain an income to help fund our work.
Loan of material
The Archive will loan to or borrow material from recognised institutions and organisations for bona fide educational purposes, subject to all parties security and preservation conditions being met, and on completion of a loan agreement form.
The Archive will allow licensing of assets where permissions and copyrights allow and reserve the right in return to demand an agreed licensed fee, and/or charitable donations and/or commercial gain by the Charity.
All requests will be considered on an individual basis.
Review of policy
This policy was discussed and agreed at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the National Jazz Archive held online on 13th July 2026.
It will be reviewed no less than once every three years.
[[1] Other former and/or current institutions include but are not exclusive to the Altman-Koss Video Jazz Archive at Brighton University, the American Music Collection at Exeter University, the BBC Archive, Birmingham City University (where we hold the formally donated the British Institute of Jazz Studies Archive), the British Library, Jazz Heritage Wales, Leeds College of Music, the Scottish Jazz Archive, and The Jazz Centre UK.]
JULY 2026
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