The UK Data Archive started in 1967, and is celebrating 40 years of data archiving with a special reception in the House of Commmons, a workshop and open day at the UKDA, a booklet chronicling the changes over the years, and a suite of Anniversary web pages. The booklet and the web pages include: an introduction by Ian Diamond, Chief Executive, Economic and Social Research Council; the origins of the Archive; the social science environment; profiles of people who have worked at the Archive; processing and preservation with details of media used over the years; as well as other pages on activities associated with the Archive. The pages conclude with a look at the future by Kevin Schürer, the current director of the Archive.

The Anniversary web pages will be added to during the year. Readers with memories of the Archive they would like to share on these pages can email feedback with comments or suggestions.