Collections

The IHR library is an open-access reference collection of published primary sources covering the history of Western Europe and its expansion overseas from the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Material is acquired in the language of origin, and as a consequence more than half of the collection is in languages other than English.

The entire Library is regarded as a special collection, but the following collections may be regarded as particularly outstanding: medieval and early modern western Europe in general, especially chronicles, cartularies, Episcopal registers and visitations and civic records; French history, especially medieval Normandy, the French Revolution and inventories of Departmental archives; Dutch history; the colonial history of the Americas; the US Civil War; British parliamentary history, especially printed poll books; and the English county record series.

There is a large collection of historical periodicals and a significant collection of microforms. We subscribe to electronic resources which fall within our collection remit, or where we subscribe jointly within the ULRLS. The library holds copies of most University of London theses in history, ranging from the early twentieth century to 2009.

See the collection details page for further information about the library's holdings.