This thesis focuseses on archives and availability. The general public seem to have trouble finding their way tothe actual archives even though most archival institutions are easily accessed and provide interesting material.Maybe it is because archives are generally not as well known as other institutions within the ALM-area, eventhough the need to know ones history and identity is considered mainstream. Whether or not history takes off atthe archives is a complex question to answer. Archives, however, certanly contribute to our ideas of earlier timesand the concept of history.I have examined what archives do to make these contributions known to the general public and to whatextent they make their material avaliable. I have also looked into archival pedagogy since it is often connected toavaliability. Furhtermore, since the educational system of Sweden has decided that pupils should understand the correct historical sources archives and their material are now an important part of the historical education. This thesis focuses on the archival work and does not examine how the educational system of Sweden discusess regarding collaboration with archives.This is a two year master´s thesis.