The strength of this group lies in the fact that the agencies which created these records occupied what was in each case the apex of the administrative structure of the country. The records contain many policy deliberations and decisions which shaped the pattern of British administration in Myanmar.The period covered went through two Anglo-Myanmar Wars; one between 1852-1854 and the other in 1885. Myanmar was annexed in 1886 and governed as part of India till 1937. The separation of Myanmar from India was followed by the Second World War and Myanmar’s Independence in 1948.
       Each RG 1 Series has a different history of transfer. Series 1 A and B were formally transfered from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the National Archives Department on 7th February, 1975. They were in two parts. The first part consisted of a total of 6287 official case files together with the two original documents of the Panglong Agreement of 1947 and the 1943 Independence Documents. The second part consisted of 1689 printed proceedings of the Political Department, Home Ministry. The third batch RG 1 C was acquired in July 1985. Since all the Series A, B and C were transferred from the Foreign Office, they are referred to conveniently as Foreign Office (A) Foreign Office (B) and Foreign Office (C).
       Records pertaining to Series 2 to 14 consisting of British period records of the different States and Division were transferred from various Offices of the People’s Council at various times when teams from this Office visited the States and Divisions to effect the transfer of records. Although the records are from various States and Divisions of the country, they are not many in number. No pre-independence records have been transferred from the Karen State, the Kayah State and the Mandalay Division.
       Earlier on in 1977, a major portion of British period records of the Irrawaddy Division had already been taken over by the Myanmar Historical Research Department. These records were transferred to the Archives Department in 1984 through the courtesy of the Ministry of Culture. This collection forms Series 15 named the Irrawaddy Series when the records of the Offices of the Deputy Commissioners of Henzada, Maubin, Myaungmya, Pyapon and Bassein already acquired by this Department, were added.
       Only limited access to this Record Group has so far been given to authorized searchers as they are wholly made up of original files which are very fragile. Series 1 A and B have now been microfilmed. The Group has been accessioned and listed. Name index and file title index are now being compiled. The extent of the group is 200 meters.