IOR/L/R

In 1858 the India Office established the Record and Statistical Department. This became the Record Branch of the new Statistics and Commerce Department 1874-79, and of the Revenue, Statistics and Commerce Department 1879-84. A new Registry and Record Department was formed in 1884, taking over the functions of the old Registry Department and of the Superintendent of Records formerly attached to the Revenue, Statistics and Commerce Department.

A Parliamentary Branch was established in 1899 within the Record Department responsible for the printing and presentation of Parliamentary Papers and for recording and processing Parliamentary Questions etc. In 1917 all main departmental registries were placed under the control of heads of department instead of the Registrar, who retained some supervisory functions. The Registry and Record Department took over responsibility for ecclesiastical returns and wills and administrations from the Accountant General's Department.

In 1923, the joint post of Registrar and Superintendent of the Records was abolished. A separate Record Department headed by a Superintendent was constituted with responsibility also for the Parliamentary Branch. From 1924 this Department came under the Services and General Department.

On the dissolution of the India Office in 1947, the Records passed into the control of the Commonwealth Relations Office. The Indian Records Section functioned 1947-62 and was linked to the India Office Library from 1954. The India Office Records was formed in 1962, becoming more fully unified with the India Office Library from 1967.