Documentary RecordThe Value of Internal DocumentsAuthenticated internal communications preserved within the Donovan archive and supported by contemporaneous public reporting demonstrate an important historical principle. Documentary PreservationOne of the recurring themes within The Shell Leaks Files is the importance of preserving documents in their original chronological context. Placed alongside preceding and subsequent correspondence, regulatory announcements and public statements, it often acquires greater historical significance. The purpose of The Shell Leaks Files is to maintain that documentary continuity while clearly distinguishing authenticated evidence from later interpretation. About The Shell Leaks FilesThe Shell Leaks Files is an independent documentary archive preserving authenticated historical material relating to Royal Dutch Shell plc, Shell plc and associated companies.