Galleon weathervane being lifted on a crane above the roof of Park Building

Are you interested in finding out more about the history of the University?

The University of Portsmouth archive collection is based in the University Library. It includes material not only from the current university, but also its predecessors and associated organisations: 

Portsmouth and Gosport School of Science (1869 - 1894) 

Portsmouth Municipal Technical Institute (1894 - 1908)

Portsmouth Municipal College (1908 - 1954)

Portsmouth College of Technology (1954 -1969)

Portsmouth Polytechnic (1969 - 1992)

Portsmouth College of Education (Formerly Portsmouth Training College) 1907-1976) 

College of Art (1894 - 1994). 

 

Visiting Information

The collection can be consulted by appointment only in the archive room.

Appointments are usually available on Monday mornings, and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but it may be possible to accommodate appointments at other times. Please contact us to discuss this.

Email: archive@port.ac.uk
Tel: 023 9284 3292

Here are some guidelines when using the archive collection as many items are unique and irreplaceable:

  • Please make any handwritten notes in pencil rather than pen.
  • Items should be handled with care as many are fragile. Book rests are available to use with large bound volumes.
  • No food or drinks are allowed.
  • Please wash your hands to ensure that they are clean before handling documents.
  • You may wish to bring a digital camera as it will not be possible to copy some items due to their format and condition.
  • Reuse of images is subject to copyright restrictions. Please consult the archivist for further information.
  • Some items in the collection may not be available for consultation as they contain sensitive information
  • A selection of our collections are now also available to search on the Archives Hub

Calling staff and students past and present

The university archive collects material relevant to the history of the University of Portsmouth. If you have something that you would like to donate to the collection, please get in touch.  

Additional Special Collections

Landau Collection - a collection of published works by the author, sculptor and academic Professor Rom Landau (1899 -1974), born Romuald Zbigniew Landau, with family papers formerly belonging to Rom’s brother Wlodzimierz Waclaw Gauthier-Landau.