The Bristol Archives, formerly known as the Bristol Record Office, were founded in 1924 and were only moved to their current spaces in 1992. It was the first office of its kind in the whole of the UK, as there was only one other office at the time. local authority records office (in Bedfordshire). The Bristol Archives, take care of the official archives of the homonymous city, as well as collect and preserve many other documents relating to the city and the surrounding area which are then made available for consultation. The office also serves as the diocesan registration office for the Diocese of Bristol.

Today it is a museum, belonging to the Bristol Museums, where the main collections deposited include those of the chocolate makers JS Fry & Sons and that of Imperial Tobacco (late 18th century and 20th century

The Bristol Archives also hold material relating to the port of Bristol from the 13th century onwards, material dating back to the British Empire and relating to the Commonwealth.