Some of our major collections

This page gives details of just some of our most important collections. The D.H. Lawrence Collection, the Portland (London), Portland (Welbeck) and Newcastle Collections have won recognition under the Arts Council Designation Scheme as being of outstanding national and international importance.

Our collections are very diverse. To get an idea of the range of other material we hold, you can browse the top-level descriptions of collections by clicking the down arrow next to the 'Discover our Collections' heading on the top toolbar, and choosing 'Browse by subject/type'.

There is much more information available in the Collections page on our website.

D.H. Lawrence Collection

The celebrated Nottinghamshire writer is the focus of this Designated Collection.

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University of Nottingham archive

Documenting the history of the University from its beginnings as University College, Nottingham, established in 1881.

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Newcastle (Clumber) Collection

The Pelham-Clinton family, Dukes of Newcastle-under-Lyne, of Clumber Park, were major landowners and politicians. This is one of our Designated Collections.

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Portland (Welbeck) Collection

The papers of the Cavendish-Bentinck Dukes of Portland, of Welbeck Abbey, are a Designated collection. The 3rd Duke served as Prime Minister.

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Water engineering records

Records from many local companies and organisations responsible for supplying drinking water and sewerage facilities, flood prevention, pollution control and protection of fish stocks before the 1970s.

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Papers of Professor Sir Peter Mansfield relating to MRI

Part of a collection of records of research and development work on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) carried out at the University of Nottingham.

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Florence Nightingale Collection (printed books)

In 2020 Manuscripts and Special Collections launched an exhibition to celebrate Florence Nightingale's bicentenary. See our website for more details.

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Archive of the Archdeaconry of Nottingham

Marriage bonds, churchwarden presentments and penances from the 'Bawdy Court' reveal hidden aspects of the lives of Nottinghamshire's people.

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