The Archive holds over 2,600 catalogued items thus far in a range of formats, including vellum, paper, bound volumes, photographs and engravings, together with a growing amount of audio-visual material.
Exeter College Oxford began with its foundation and the Gwinear deed of appropriation dated 1314. A handful of earlier 1200 deeds are located within the Early halls section Reference EC/9/1. All records that begin from the 14th century include charters, estate deeds, governance documents, benefactions books and account records. During the 16th century earlier records of domestic staff and accounts still survive, followed by the beginnings of the Academic and Rector papers from the 17th Century. During the 18th century the current Chapel was built and records from this period survive including plans, accounts and correspondence.
Most questions about the past life of Exeter College can be answered by consulting the publication Exeter College the First 700 years by Frances Cairncross. For a quick historical overview click on this link to the college website Exeter College's history.
The best place to start when researching alumni at Exeter College is the Register of the Rector and Fellows by Charles William Boase (1894), which lists alumni by surname and gives details of their parentage and earlier education; another publication Exeter College Register by Archibald Barwell How (1928), which lists alumni who matriculated at Exeter College between 1891 and 1921, is also useful. For researching research alumni please contact the Archivist and Records Manager.
Contact us
The College Archives are housed in purpose-built premises at Cohen Quad with controlled environmental storage and a reading room to accommodate researchers.
An archival catalogue is available online at https://archives.exeter.ox.ac.uk
The Archivist and Records Manager is available during the week and will undertake short enquiries either by email, telephone or letter. Access to the archives is by appointment only and the reading room is generally open Monday to Friday 9.30am-12.00pm and then 12.30pm-4.00pm. All researchers must abide by the general rules for researchers and complete and sign a research registration form upon their first visit. Recent records which contain either personal data that refers to a living individual or is commercially sensitive will be closed for a period. Please contact the Archivist if you would like further information concerning access.
Address for written enquiries: Mrs. Victoria Northridge, Archivist and Records Manager, Exeter College, Cohen Quadrangle, Walton Street, Oxford, OX1 2DH
Email: archives@exeter.ox.ac.uk
Telephone: 01865 610555
