![Image of a page from an Early Printed Book Primum [-tertium] Galeni volumen. Galen. 1515. Images from Merton's collections courtesy of The Warden and Fellows of Merton College Oxford](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.merton.ox.ac.uk%2Fapi%2Fimages%2Ffile%2F45.B.2%2520smaller%2520smaller.jpg%3Fv%3D2026-01-05T07%3A22%3A29.778Z&w=3840&q=75 "Image of a page from an Early Printed Book Primum [-tertium] Galeni volumen. Galen. 1515. Images from Merton's collections courtesy of The Warden and Fellows of Merton College Oxford")
Special Collections
What are Merton's Special Collections?
In addition to collections of modern books (intended primarily for the use of current members of the College), Merton’s Library and Archives also holds extensive Special Collections: rare, unique and heritage material.
Our Special Collections consist of:
- The College archives–see the College Archives page to learn more about them. Material in the archives is in two main categories:
- Administrative records of the college and its estates (the archives proper)
- Personal papers and other material created by, belonging to or linked to some of our former members
- Manuscripts
- Early printed books or rare books
- Objects, including paintings, prints and astronomical instruments
Anyone with a genuine research interest may book an appointment to consult this material. See the “Contents and finding aids” section below for more information about what we have and where to look to learn more, and the Consulting Special Collections material page for information about making an appointment to see items. (Please note that an appointment is required: we are unable to accommodate readers without one.)
Please send enquiries about Merton’s Special Collections to the email address library-archive@merton.ox.ac.uk (or, if your query is specifically about the archives and not a request for an appointment, directly to the Archivist, Julian Reid).
Contents & Finding Aids
Conservation
Merton’s collections include medieval manuscripts, parchment deeds and account rolls, prints, photographs, maps, and early printed books in historic bindings – all of which require specialist care to preserve them for current and future use. Fortunately Merton is a member of the Oxford Conservation Consortium, a collaborative conservation centre formed by a group of Oxford colleges in 1990.
Since 2001 the Oxford Conservation Consortium has been based in a modern, spacious workshop developed by Merton at the Grove Cottage site. The Conservation Consortium employs accredited conservators, helps train future specialists through an internship programme and attracts visits from conservators from around the world.