Abstract: An Improved Database Architecture and Method is disclosed. Also disclosed is. The system has three subsystems, namely, a master data system, at least one local data system and a communications system for permitting the local data systems to communicate with the master data system, wherein the method for exchanging information between the local and master data system is in the form of data record messages. The local and master data systems each include data repositories defined by a database records; each database record has content data, relationship data and edit history data.