Digital libraries: Thatcher files now available online

The National Archives has published online for the first time the official papers of one of Britain's most iconic political figures. From November 18, the prime ministerial files of Margaret Thatcher's first year in power can be searched for free.

To coincide with the 20th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher's resignation from Number 10, over 100 records from The Prime Minister's Office have been newly digitized in a joint project by The National Archives and The Margaret Thatcher Foundation. The files, dating from May until December 1979, have been transcribed using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to allow the records to be fully searchable by keyword.

The records show the huge range of subjects that dominated the business of government at the time, including the civil service, the Commonwealth, defence, economic policy, foreign policy, home affairs, industrial policy, the National Health Service, trade, transport and many more.

The records often include comments written in the Prime Minister's own hand, which can be very revealing about her reactions to memoranda and letters, giving insights into her whole approach to the job, her personal style and aspects of personality - mood and temperament.

The National Archives hopes to digitize further releases of records once they have been opened under the 30 year rule.