The Conservative Party Archive (CPA) was established as a source of academic research at the Bodleian Library, Oxford in 1978 and is the official depository of the party’s central organisations.

Prior to this, Conservative papers had been divided between Conservative Central Office and Newcastle University Library.  At the Bodleian, the papers were consolidated, catalogued and administered by a dedicated archivist within the Modern Political Papers Section of the Library’s Special Collections and Western Manuscripts department.

The CPA has established itself as a valuable source for historians interested in economic, social and political papers in Britain.

The CPA is the Archive of the Party’s organisation and its papers contain records that individuals created in the course of their particular roles within the Conservative Central Office.  While much of the material is about policy, research, plans and elections, it necessarily touches on the personalities involved and provides a fascinating insight into the workings of a modern political organisation.

The oldest papers in the Archive are located in the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Association’s collection which date from 1867 and the Archive is particularly strong in the post-second world war era.  The Archive continues to grow with regular transfers of material from Conservative Campaign Headquarters and organisations affiliated to the Conservative Party. 

To find out more about making deposits to the CPA please click here.

The CPA in context of the Bodleian Library
The CPA complements other collections held in the Bodleian’s Modern Political Papers Section which is recognised as one of the most important collections of modern political papers in Britain.

The Modern Political Papers Section provides a wide and absorbing collection generated by politicians, public servants, journalists, broadcasters and others in public life.  Dating from 1840, they include the private papers of several Prime Ministers such as Benjamin Disraeli, Clement Attlee, Harold Macmillan and Harold Wilson as well as leading figures from across the political spectrum such as Lord Kimberley, Sir William Harcourt, Lord George Brown and Lady Emmet. 

For a comprehensive list of political archives in the UK please click here.

The CPA Trust and Trustees
The CPA is supported and managed by an enthusiastic group of Trustees who are committed to seeing the CPA well resourced, promoted and used.  If you would like further information on becoming a Trustee or otherwise supporting the CPA, please contact the Chairman of the Trustees Dr Philip Brown at pjobrown@btopenworld.com.