3 MARCH 2001, Page 34

Our name's the same

From Mr Christopher Kitching Sir: The Duchess of Devonshire (Diary, 17 February) includes the Historical Manuscripts Commission in a list of those organisations that have recently changed their names. In fact, ever since it was founded in 1869, the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts has also used the shorter title, Historical Manuscripts Commission. This has long been a source of confusion, particularly with a former sister body entitled the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments.

We are proud to be a Royal Commission, and continue to use the fuller and more formal title on official documents. All that has recently changed is that we now more consistently call ourselves the Historical Manuscripts Commission for everyday purposes. Our functions — to act as the United Kingdom's central body for information and to advise on archives — remain as they always have been.

Christopher Kitching

Secretary, The Historical Manuscripts Commission, London WC2