State Paper Office

The State Paper Office was an office within the British government responsible for managing state papers, which were documents generated by government departments. This office emerged in the 16th century as the importance of these state papers, including in-letters, out-letters, drafts, reports, and schedules, grew significantly. The State Paper Office was headed by a clerk of the papers, and under its second holder, Sir Thomas Wilson, the state papers were divided into foreign and domestic categories. Over time, as government departments developed their own archives, the functions of the State Paper Office evolved, eventually leading to the establishment of the Public Record Office in 1838, which became responsible for documents from government departments and courts. The State Paper Office's role was to organize and preserve these crucial government records.1