Collections
The IHR Wohl Library supports research across a wide range of historical subjects, time periods and places.
You can find information on print and online collections. Both can be searched via the online catalogue.
Subject Guides
By Place
Britain and Ireland
Europe
- Austria
- East European and the Balkans
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Low Countries
- Nordic Countries
- Portugal
- Spain
- Switzerland
Americas
Other parts of the world
- Colonial collection overview
- Africa
- Australasia and Pacific
- Asia
- India
- Far East
- Middle East
By Subject
- Archaeology
- Architecture
- History of Art and Design
- Black history
- Byzantine Empire
- Cold War
- Crusades
- Disability history
- Economic history
- Environmental history
- Fashion history
- First World War
- Food history
- Garden history
- Genealogical research
- Gender history
- General collection
- Historiography
- International Relations
- (European) Jewish history
- Medical History
- Memory and Commemoration
- Migration History
- Military History
- Monumenta Germaniae Historica (MGH) series
- Museum and Heritage Studies
- (UK) Parliamentary history
- Poll books
- Religious history
- History of Science and Technology
- History of Sexuality
- History of Slavery
- Social Policy history
- Sport history
- Transport history
- Travel writing
By Format
Collection Locations
Introduction
The library catalogue is shared across Senate House Library and the School of Advanced Study libraries.
- You can search all libraries or limit to our collection.
- Location begins with IHR for our holdings.
- Location shows floor and room of open shelf items, or indicates if item is available from onsite or offsite store.
- All items are for library-use only.
Download library user guide with more detailed floorplans.
IHR open shelf collections
The library is mostly arranged by country, with a few topical collections. The Subject guides show examples of research topics that are spread throughout collections.
Item locations are given on the catalogue. Download library user guide with more detailed floorplans.
IHR Floor 3 - Reference: Floor 3 reading room
IHR Floor 2 Wohl - Reference: Floor 2 Wohl library
IHR Floor 2 Americas - Reference: Floor 2 Americas room
IHR Floor 1 Wohl - Reference: Floor 1 Wohl library
IHR Floor 1 Foyle - Reference: Floor 1 Foyle room
IHR Floor G - Reference: Current Periodicals Room
IHR Floor LG - Reference: Lower ground reading room
IHR classmarks consist of letters (indicating collection) and numbers (indicating shelf order). Class numbers read as decimal numbers e.g. BS.253 files before BS.5. The last letter is doubled or trebled for oversized volume e.g. BB or EFF. These are usually on separate oversized shelves.
IHR onsite store
Items marked onsite store can be requested in person at Library Enquiries, by phone 020 7862 8760 or email ihr.library@sas.ac.uk. Fetches will be carried out at set times through the day. If you can, please pre-order ahead of your visit.
IHR offsite store
Items marked offsite store will be available within 1-2 working days by pre-ordering in person at Library Enquiries, by phone 020 7862 8760 or email ihr.library@sas.ac.uk
Periodicals
- Browse recent issues of most periodicals in the periodicals room on the ground floor. The last 3-4 years of each title is available under the flap behind the current issue.
- Many periodicals are available electronically from PCs within the library. You can access these via links on the catalogue. Due to licence restrictions they aren't available offsite (except for IHR staff and students).
- Some periodicals are on open access in their entirety, and the back issues are shelved near the relevant collection. These include:
- Historical Research
- English Historical Review
- Scottish Historical Review
- Past and Present
- History
- Archaeologia
- Archaeological Journal
- Journal of Ecclesiastical History
- International history review
- Diplomatic History
- Record society and other source-based series are mostly on the open shelves.
- Most back issues of periodicals are in closed-access and can be requested. There is no limit on the number of volumes. Most titles are in onsite store post-1950, and offsite prior to that, with some exceptions.
