Archives

THL houses the archives of its predecessors.

National Public Health Institute (1911–31 December 2008)

The history of the National Public Health Institute (KTL) goes back to 1911 and the establishment of a provisional state serum laboratory under the National Board of Health. KTL started operations in 1982 and was abolished on 31 December 2008. THL has in its possession the archives of

• the provisional state serum laboratory (1911–1914);
• the State Serum Laboratory (1915–1946);
• the State Serum Institute (1947–1969);
• the Public Health Laboratory (1970–1981) and
• the National Public Health Institute (1982–2008).

STAKES (1 December 1992–31 December 2008)

The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES) started operating on 1 December 1992 and was abolished on 31 December 2008. The archives contain documents from the entire period of operation of STAKES.

National Agency for Welfare and Health (1 March 1991–1 Dec 1992)

The National Agency for Welfare and Health was established on 1 March 1991 to replace the National Board of Health and the National Board of Social Welfare. As early as 1 December 1992 the agency was again restructured and, to better reflect the new functions, was renamed as the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health. Some of the functions of the Agency were transferred to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, some to the National Authority for Medicolegal Affairs (in 1992; since 1 January 2009 the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)) and some to the National Agency for Medicines (in 1993). The THL archives contain documents from the whole period of operation of the National Agency for Welfare and Health.

National Board of Health (1811–1991)

The National Board of Health started operating in 1811. It was abolished in the 1991 administrative reform. THL has in its possession documents of the National Board of Health beginning from the 1950s up to the Board’s abolishment. Most of the documents stored at THL have time limits for storage. Please contact the National Archives concerning documents that are stored permanently.

National Board of Social Welfare and Ministry of Social Affairs

The National Board of Social Welfare was established in 1917 and abolished in 1923. After the abolishment of the Board, the Ministry of Social Affairs (1917–1967) took on its functions. In 1968, the National Board of Social Welfare was re-established. It was abolished in 1991.

The archives of the National Board of Social Welfare and the Minister of Social Affairs have been transferred to the National Archives. Please contact the National Archives concerning these documents.