Our executive records date back to the seventeenth century and our collections as a whole to the fifteenth century, and in many cases they continue up to the present time. There is currently no full OPAC but the majority of the collection is well indexed and retrievable for researchers. There is a thirty-year closure policy for unpublished information. See below for some of the main categories of our collections, and check out the Research Visits page for information on consulting our materials.
Executive Records
- Delegates’ Order Books: ledgers covering publication details and general Press administration, 1668–present
- Finance Committee Minutes, 1860s–present
- Letter Books for Oxford and London businesses, 19/20th century
- Music Department records, 1923-present
- Wolvercote Paper Mill records, 1850s-2000s
Printing House Records
- Account books/day books for printing, 17th-20th century
- Bible production records, 17th-20th century
- Printing House administration, 17th-20th century
Editorial Records
- Editorial files on OUP titles, 19th century-present
- Contract material for OUP titles, 19th century-present
- Condensed accounts for OUP titles, 19th century-present
- Limited publicity material, 20th century-present
Dictionary Records
- Papers of the Oxford English Dictionary, 1850s–present
- Papers of other Oxford Dictionaries, 1880s–present
- Papers of the Philological Society, 1860s-1990s
- Papers of literary societies, 1860s-1900s
Social Records
- Records of OUP social groups, ie, fire brigade, choir, sports teams, c.1850s-present
- Staff magazines for Oxford and London offices:
- The Periodical, 1896–1979
- The Clarendonian (Oxford), 1919–1983
- The Lantern (London), 1923–1955
- The Record, 1956–2005
- Mosaic, 2005–2020
Audio-Visual Material
- Photographs, 19th century-present
- Publicity images
- Premises (UK and global offices)
- Printing and binding processes
- Oxford English Dictionary
- Colleagues
- Film Footage, 20th century
- Oral History interviews
Artefacts
- The Fell Type collection of punches, matrices, and wooden initials obtained by John Fell from Holland in the 17th century
- Compositors’ benches from Fell’s print shop in the Sheldonian Theatre
- Engraved copper plates for the Oxford Almanacks and for book decoration
- Printing machinery, including Stanhope, Albion, and Star Wheel presses, and a Monotype keyboard and caster
- Hand moulds, ink balls, stereotype plates, and other tools for printing and engraving
Published Material
- OUP catalogues, c.1900s-2000s
- Printed examples of Oxford Almanacks, 1676-2019
- Typographical Library, 16th-20th century
- Bible Library, 16th century-present
