ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

A collage of portrait images of five famous suffrage campaigners

Historical resources

Explore the historical archives and special collections available at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Library.

ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ archives

Our archive collections focus on modern British political and economic history, in particular the work of pressure groups, think-tanks and campaigners. They also cover the development of social science in Britain, in particular the history of ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.

Some of the collection highlights include:

  • The Women’s Library – gender equality pressure groups and campaigners covering the history of feminism from the late 19th century onwards.
  • LGBT+ collections – including the Hall-Carpenter Archives which are particularly strong on campaigns for gay rights from the 1950s onwards.
  • Charles Booth archive – an influential inquiry into poverty in London in the late 1800s.
  • Welfare and social security – including the “discovery of poverty” in the late 19th century, the welfare reforms of the early-mid 20th century, the Beveridge report, and the Child Poverty Action Group.
  • Peace and internationalism – pressure groups, activists, international organisations and individuals working for peace, disarmament and greater international cooperation from the late 19th century to the present day.
  • Britain and Europe – in particular the development in Britain in the 1930s of ideas about a Federal Europe, campaigns for/against Britain’s involvement from the 1950s onwards
  • ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ History – archives in relation to the history and development of social science in Britain and the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, including the School’s institutional archives. 
A woman talking at a microphone in front of a CND banner
Pat Arrowsmith, peace activist and prominent member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Online resources 

We provide access to many historical online resources. Here are some examples:

  •  to access newly digitsed collections.
  • provides access to the Poverty Maps and Police Notebooks from the late 19th century study of London.
  •  contains the publications and archives of the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
  •  illuminates the experiences of the LGBTQ community including individuals of different races, ethnicities, ages, religions and political orientations.
  •  is a collection of primary source materials including diaries and travel logs relating to Empire Studies.
  •  provides a unique insight into life in Britain between 1937 and 1950.
  •  includes private letters, speeches and other key historical documents.
  •  makes available around 28,000 documents pertinent to Stalin's personal biography, his work in government and his conduct of foreign affairs.
Find out more