The holdings of the Conservative Party Archive increase through regular transfers of papers from Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

Personal papers
Material from private sources which helps to demonstrate the role of Conservative Central Office or its Area Offices, or any other key component within the Conservative Party structure, are equally welcome, as are the papers of key Party personnel.

Despite the huge amount of archival material which has survived, there are a number of gaps in our holdings owing to various Central Office moves over the years, and salvage drives during the War. These gaps, and a complete record of the history of the Party, can only be filled by the addition of personal papers.

Local Conservative Associations
Local Association records are just as important as an historical resource as the records of the central Party organisations, and should definitely be preserved. Unfortunately owing to the sheer volume of constituency papers and minute books, the CPA is not in a position to accept them. There is a long tradition of local associations depositing their records with their local county record office, which will be happy to take them, and the information they contain is usually of much greater relevance if retained locally.

If you would like help in identifying the appropriate county record office to contact, or advice on what might be considered of interest, the CPA Archivist will be happy to help.

Conservative Party-affiliated organisations
While the files of Conservative Central Office dating back to the 1930s contain details of contacts with other Conservative-leaning or affiliated organisations, the diverse and decentralised nature of these organisations means that often a full record of their activities is not always preserved in the CPA in the same way as for Central Office records.

The CPA has broadened its collections policy and now actively seeks to encourage the deposit of records of organisations affiliated to the Conservative Party. For a list of those organisations whose records would be welcomed on deposit, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organisations_associated_with_the_British_Conservative_Party

The CPA also takes in the records of Conservative-leaning think tanks, and currently holds papers and publications of the Bow Group, the Centre for Policy Studies and Civitas, amongst others.

If you have any material you feel would enhance the Archive’s content and you would be prepared to donate it, please contact the Archivist, Jeremy McIlwaine in the first instance at jeremy.mcilwaine@bodley.ox.ac.uk