Archives and Manuscripts
We hold over 350 collections of archives and manuscripts in Special Collections.
These include the richest collection of twentieth-century literary papers by writers associated with the south west of England in any university library. Writers represented include Ted Hughes, Leonard Baskin, John Betjeman, Daphne du Maurier, Henry Williamson, Charles Causley, Patricia Beer, Theo Brown, Jack Clemo, TS Eliot, John Fowles, Eden Phillpotts, Lawrence Sail, John Fairfax, John Moat, Sylvia Kantaris, Agatha Christie, Frances Bellerby, Arthur Caddick, RF Delderfield, James Farrar, A L Rowse, and Flora Thompson.
We also hold significant collections relating to History, Theology, Social Studies, Antiquarianism, Colonial Studies and the Middle East. See our Archives and Rare Books Resources for more information.
How to Find Information
1. Alphabetical and Numerical lists of archives
For an overview of collections, browse alphabetical and numerical lists of archives. For more in-depth information on each collection see the online archive catalogue.
2. Online archive catalogue
Fully searchable for more information in individual archives and manuscripts. Enables simple searching on "any text" for names, MS numbers, or keywords. Also has an advanced search screen to narrow and widen search hitlists. For help with searching contact Special Collections on libspc@exeter.ac.uk.
3. Archives and Rare Books Subject Resources
The archive and rare books subject resources give guidance on collections relating to specific academic subjects.
External Research Links - UK
UK Data Archive is the curator of the largest collection of digital data in Social Sciences and Humanities in the UK
National Register of Archives Achives of individuals and corporate bodies
Archives Hub Gateway to archives in UK universities and colleges
Access to Archives Gateway to archives held locally in England and Wales
Discovery The catalogue of The National Archives
British Library manuscripts catalogue
National Digital Archive of Datasets Provides online access to archived digital datasets and documents from UK central government departments
RASCAL (Northern Ireland)
ANW (Wales)
AIM25 and GASHE (HE archives: London area / Scotland)
Location Register of 20th Century English Literary Manuscripts (literary papers in UK repositories)
GENESIS (women’s history)
Cecilia Backstage (performing arts)
Artists’ Papers Register (art and design)
NAHSTE (science)
Hospital Records Database (historical medical records)
See also our NEW pdf guide giving information on literary archives held throughout the region Location list of Archives
External Research Links - International
Repositories of Primary Sources (A listing of over 5000 international websites describing holdings of manuscripts, archives, rare books, historical photographs, and other primary sources for the research scholar)
Europeana - Explore Europe's cultural collections
UNESCO Archives Portal
National Union Catalogue of Manuscript Collections (US and other collections)
Mundus (international resource for missionary history)
