Contents of the Archive
The contents of the Archive broadly fall into the following categories:
- Documents about the administration of the College, including statutes and minute books;
- Documents about the College’s finances
- Documents about the College’s buildings
- Records of the clubs and societies of the College, including photographs
- Some records relating to former Masters, Fellows, staff and students
- The Chavasse family papers, including the correspondence of our founder, Francis James Chavasse, and our first Master, Christopher Chavasse.
Please note that the papers of Noel Chavasse are held separately at the Imperial War Museum.
The St Peter's Archives also hold a small number of items given by private donation that do not relate strictly to the history of the College, including the Brooke-Sladen papers, which includes correspondence sent by and on behalf of members of the French royal family in exile in England during the reign of Napoleon. It also has a large collection of the private papers of John Barron, who was Master between 1991 and 2003.
Records of a more confidential nature, especially about persons still living, are usually closed to the public.
Access to the Archives
The College Archivist can answer simple enquiries about the archives by post or email. Email archives@spc.ox.ac.uk
For more complex enquiries, researchers may be advised to visit the archives themselves. The Archives of St Peter’s College are usually open, by appointment only, on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00-12:45 and 13:45-16:30.
Create a display using College Archives material
College members, including students, are encouraged to engage with the College Archives by proposing displays of archival materials on a particular theme.
The College welcomes ideas or suggestions for displays of College Archive materials on particular themes or topics. If you are considering creating such a display, do feel free at any time to contact the Archivist in person or by email to discuss your ideas.
The College has in place a policy on the mounting of displays, which applies to College Archive displays. In staging exhibitions, College members are expected to comply with these rules.
Generally, the College is happy to make available some of the cases in the College Chapel for such displays, but please keep in mind when planning exhibits the limited amount of space available.
Meet our Archivist
Dr Alison Ray is responsible for the development and management of the College’s historical archives and modern records relating to the members, governance, fabric and history of St Peter’s.
