University College (popularly called “Univ.”) traces its origins back to 1249, making it a claimant for the title of the oldest College in Oxford. In spite of its age, it was also one of the smallest and poorest for many years. Until the 19th century, it had very strong links with the north-east of England: most of its Fellowships and Scholarships were only open to candidates from Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. Famous alumni include Clement Attlee, Bill Clinton, Percy Shelley, C. S. Lewis, V. S. Naipaul, and Prince Felix Yusupov, assassin of Rasputin.
The archives of University College include accounts and other financial documents from the 1380s onwards. There are also title deeds, going back to the 1190s, and other estate papers (including maps) on the College's properties in Oxfordshire, Essex, Yorkshire, Montgomeryshire, Newcastle and elsewhere. There are many papers, including architectural drawings, relating to the College's buildings, especially concerning the building of its Main Quadrangle in the 17th century. Admission Registers for college members have been kept continuously since 1674. The archives do not contain many collections of private papers, but they do hold several photograph albums dating from the 1860s to the 1930s, as well as many photographs of College groups, and sports teams.
The College's accounts from 1381/2-1596/7, and many of its medieval documents have now been edited or calendared (see publications below).
The medieval manuscripts of University College are deposited with the Bodleian Libraries. Please address enquiries about these to the College Library (library@univ.ox.ac.uk) in the first instance.
Enquiries in writing or e-mail are preferred and access is always by appointment as space for visitors is very limited. Researchers may take their own photographs for private research purposes only.
Archivist: Dr. Robin Darwall-Smith
Opening hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 10.00 - 1.00 and 2.00 - 4.30 (by appointment only)
Address: University College, Oxford, OX1 4BH
Phone: 01865-276952
E-mail: robin.darwall-smith@univ.ox.ac.uk
Web: http://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/content/archives
An online catalogue of the archives of University College can be found at: https://archives.univ.ox.ac.uk/
Further Reading:
- Robin Darwall-Smith, A History of University College, Oxford (OUP, 2008).
- A. D. M. Cox and R. H. Darwall-Smith, Account Rolls of University College 1381/2-1596/7 (Oxford Historical Society, vols. 39 and 40 (n.s.), 1999 and 2001)
- R. H. Darwall-Smith (ed.), Early Records of University College, Oxford (Oxford Historical Society vol. 46 (n.s.), 2015)
