The Churchill Archives Centre

Safeguarding millions of historic documents, the Churchill Archives Centre preserves history in the raw — a place where the modern history of Britain is open and accessible to all.

About the Archives Centre FAQs

The Churchill Archives Centre

Safeguarding millions of historic documents, the Churchill Archives Centre preserves history in the raw — a place where the modern history of Britain is open and accessible to all.

About the Archives Centre FAQs

The Churchill Archives Centre is a world-leading collection of 20th Century history.

“The aim of this venture is to make the College a major centre of historical research into what might be termed the Churchill Era, where scholars will be able to find a great mass of inter-related material gathered together under a single roof.” Sir John Cockcroft, Master of Churchill, 14 July 1967

Purpose-built in 1973 to house Sir Winston Churchill's Papers, the Churchill Archives Centre is now home to the papers of almost 600 important political, military and scientific figures from the Churchill era and after. Contemporaries of Winston Churchill sit alongside major political, military and scientific figures such as: Margaret Thatcher, Ernest Bevin, John Major, Neil Kinnock, Admiral Ramsay, Field Marshal Slim, Frank Whittle and Rosalind Franklin.

Situated within the grounds of Churchill College, itself the national and Commonwealth memorial to Sir Winston, the Archives Centre is a valuable academic and cultural research hub. Its collections form one of the country’s most important sources for twentieth-century British history. The Archives Centre's mission is to preserve and make available to the public the unique materials in its care.

Our collections

With a fascinating array of documents by almost 600 important political, military and scientific figures, our collections are a rich insight into the Churchill era and after.

View the collections

Our collections

With a fascinating array of documents by almost 600 important political, military and scientific figures, our collections are a rich insight into the Churchill era and after.

View the collections

Stay up to date with history

Take a look at the latest Archives blog entries below.

#TravelTuesday Here's a photograph of a dapper looking Churchill enjoying a spot of painting in D'Urville… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…

Churchill Archives
Follow @chuarchives 3 days ago

Britain decides: Elections at the Churchill Archives Centre

If you haven't had enough of the election already...

Read article

'This was their finest hour' was delivered in the House of Commons by Sir Winston Churchill #OTD in 1940

Churchill Archives
Follow @chuarchives 5 days ago

On days like this we very much appreciate the strongroom's air con #heatwaveuk #ArchiveLife

Churchill Archives
Follow @chuarchives 4 days ago

Archives By-Fellow 2016–17

Report by our most recent Archives By-Fellow, Dr Stephen Kelly.

Read article

A School Trip to the Archives Centre!

Visit from Oakwood Park Grammar School.

Read article

La La Land

Sarah Churchill in Hollywood.

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It's #Glastonbury time! We hope you're all in your finest party wear 😎🍻🎷🎸🎺⛺️ Ref: CSCT 5/2/7

Churchill Archives
Follow @chuarchives 2 days ago

Another triumph of conservation work!

After two years of painstaking repair work, damaged Amery files can finally be seen.

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#WednesdayWisdom "I myself find waiting more tiring than action." - WSC #WinstonWisdom

Churchill Archives
Follow @chuarchives 2 days ago

Alphabetical lithographs and appealing font styles: The art of letters

Lithographs by David Kindersley, from the College library.

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It's #Ascot time, you know who loved the races! 🎩🐎🏇🏻🐴🍾 Ref: CSCT 5/7/4

Churchill Archives
Follow @chuarchives 3 days ago

The Churchill Archives Centre

Safeguarding millions of historic documents, the Churchill Archives Centre preserves history in the raw — a place where the modern history of Britain is open and accessible to all.

The Churchill Archives Centre

Safeguarding millions of historic documents, the Churchill Archives Centre preserves history in the raw — a place where the modern history of Britain is open and accessible to all.

The Churchill Archives Centre is a world-leading collection of 20th Century history.

Our collections

With a fascinating array of documents by almost 600 important political, military and scientific figures, our collections are a rich insight into the Churchill era and after.

Our collections

With a fascinating array of documents by almost 600 important political, military and scientific figures, our collections are a rich insight into the Churchill era and after.

Stay up to date with history

Take a look at the latest Archives blog entries below.

Visit the Churchill Archives Centre