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The Borthwick Institute originally specialised in ecclesiastical archives, but the past three decades or so have seen an enormous growth in the range and type of our holdings.

Many of our archives have regional, national or international importance.

Church of England and nonconformist records

We hold the records of the Diocese of York, including probate (to 1858) and parish records; as well as the archives relating to the Society of Friends (Quakers), the Methodist, Catholic Apostolic, Unitarian, Congregationalist and United Reformed churches. Read more...

University of York archive

We hold the archive of the University of York, which admitted its first students in 1963.
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Rowntree archives

We have archives of the Rowntree company and family, the research papers of Seebohm Rowntree, and archives relating to the three Rowntree Trusts. Read more...

Health and medicine

We hold the York NHS archive, consisting of the records of NHS managing bodies and services in York since 1948, and the records of the many older hospitals in the York area. Read more...

Social welfare, charities and schools

Social welfare archives include the York Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare, the American Committee for the Evacuation of British Children and Alcoholics Anonymous. Read more...

Businesses

Major holdings include the archives of Rowntree & Co; Terry's of York; Vickers Scientific Instruments; Sessions of York; and York Waterworks Company. Read more...

Societies and associations

We hold the archives of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, the York Georgian Society, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and the Merchant Taylors Company of York. Read more...

Families and individuals

We have records produced by, or relating to, individual people, including the Earls of Halifax; the Yarburgh family of Heslington Hall, York; the Milnes Coates family of Helperby Hall; and the Earls of Harewood. Read more...

Environment and Natural History

The Borthwick holds a significant number of archives relating to the environment, landscape and natural history, across a broad span of our holdings. Read more...

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Architecture, craft and design

Holdings include the records of the Atkinson Brierley architectural practice, and the architects George Pace and Ron Sims. Read more...

Southern African archives

We hold the archives collected by the University's former Centre for Southern African studies, including the papers of South African writers, activists, churchmen and politicians. Read more...

Writing and Performance

Archives of playwrights, screenwriters, comedy writers, directors and television producers, including those funded through the Samuel Storey Writing and Performance Collection. Read more...

Music

We hold the archives of individual composers, such as Wilfrid Mellers, Trevor Wishart and the archives of performers such as Electric Phoenix and York Symphony Orchestra. Read more...