Archives and Special Collections: Durham University Records: Home

The University of Durham, founded in 1832, is the third oldest in England. Established uniquely by the cathedral and bishop of Durham, over the years it has expanded from Durham to various other locations in the North East and overseas. It has always been innovative in the subjects it has taught and the range of experiences that it has provided its students.

The archive is a rich legacy of its development and activities and, along with the  university itself, is continuously growing. The potential research topics in its records are many and varied, not least, and possibly most popularly, the individuals who have been at the university. The university has covered most subjects in its time, and the interests and activities of its members have been as wide-ranging as one could wish. Whatever your research interest, dig a little and there should have been some resonance with it in the university over time.

Click on the linked image below to open the search interface for all our library, archive and museum collections.  Further guidance for searching the archives and special collections is available on our website.

The collections mentioned in this guide could be useful for a range of academic subjects taught at Durham University. The guides listed below also have information about other relevant resources.