As the most widely used collection in the Modern Papers section of the Bodleian library it is vital that we are able to safeguard and enrich the Archive’s collections with a continuing stream of new material.  To achieve this it is important that we are able to fund not only the day-to-day running costs of the Archive but undertake the considerable amount of cataloguing and conservation needed to ensure it continues to support its wide range of academic, commercial and private users.

Donations & Project Sponsorship
The Conservative Party Archive relies almost entirely on donations and any contribution you are able to make in support of our work is appreciated and will, if desired, be publically recognised.  Some may prefer to support a specific project.  Below is a list of urgent projects we are keen to progress with and for which specific funding is required.  To discuss any of the following please contact Stephen Tall at stephen.tall@devoff.ox.ac.uk. Donations which are Gift Aided will allow us to maximise the value of your donation.

Cataloguing the Archive
The total size of the Archive’s cataloguing backlog contains enough work for one archivist for about eight years. However, it will take up to four years to clear the high priority material, at a cost of c.£35,000 per annum.  Two of the top high priority cataloguing needs are:

• The Conservative Research Department papers

There are 930 boxes of Conservative Research Department papers, dating from c.1960-90s, which require processing.  Adding this collection to the existing online catalogue would open up a huge quantity of new material for researchers and make a substantial inroad into the cataloguing backlog.  The Conservative Research Department has been of immense importance in the formulation of policy since its creation in 1929.  Yet its importance also rests on the fact that its personnel have been responsible for servicing many of the committees of the parliamentary party and policy groups during periods in opposition.

• Conservative Central Office Organisation Department papers

There are approximately 180 boxes of additional material from the Organisation Department and its subordinate sections at Conservative Central Office, c.1970s-80s. The bulk of Organisation Department papers up to the 1970s have been catalogued and are available for research, and are very heavily used.  The Organisation Department was the oldest department of Conservative Central Office dating back to 1911 and was absorbed into the current Campaigning Department in 1992. Being something of an umbrella body, it had responsibility for agents, Conservative trade unionists, local government, speakers, education, the Overseas Bureau, Young Conservatives, students, personnel, the Small Business Bureau, and legal affairs, as well as the 11 Area Offices which advised the constituencies.

Digitising the Archive
Over recent years the Archive’s electronic component has increased dramatically, comprising files from the Conservative Research Department, press releases and speeches, posters, radio party political broadcasts and images.  The Archive’s Conservative poster collection – over 600 images, dating from 1886 to the present day – is available online.  However, there is much more of the Archive which could be made available online via the Bodleian website, providing free access to researchers in the UK and around the world.  Here are examples of three projects which would greatly strengthen the Archive’s online presence:

Conservative Prime Ministers’ speech transcripts, 1945-97
Digitising and making available online in a searchable and standardised format, transcripts of the speeches of Conservative Prime Ministers, 1945-1997 (approximately 10,000 pages). The Archive holds transcripts of speeches given by Conservative Prime Ministers, leaders in opposition, ministers, and shadow ministers from the 1930s to the present. These are under-utilised at present but would be a major scholarly resource if made available online.

Archive photographic collection
Cataloguing and provision of online access to the Conservative Party Archive’s photographic collection, consisting of senior party figures and events, from 1903 to the present. Digitisation would be an especially good mechanism through which assistance with identifying individuals in many of the photographs could be requested. The majority of photographs are uncaptioned and while well-known party figures will be easily recognisable, substantial input from veteran Party members is likely to be required to enable a full and complete catalogue to be produced.

Audio-visual archive
Digital conversion of analogue audio, film and video material such as Party Election Broadcasts and annual Party conference coverage, c.1970s-90s, to enable online access for readers. In addition, to provide online access to extracts of digital audio and video recordings of Party Election Broadcasts, annual Party conference speeches c. 1990s-the present, and interviews made as part of the Archive’s oral history programme.