Featured Collections

Our Digital Library provides access to a diverse range of digitised collections. These can support research, teaching and engagement work across a variety of subjects. Our collections are constantly expanding, too, so keep checking back to see what’s new.

Please also remember our digitised collections form a very small part of our total holdings. You can find out more information about some of our collections which haven’t yet been digitised on the catalogue of the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

University of York Photographs

Photographs documenting the history of the University of York, many taken by the University Photographers, based in the Library.

Lord Halifax Diaries 1940-6

The wartime diaries of Lord Halifax, 1940-46, written for and circulated to his family. They contain both personal and political matters.

Vickers Instruments Images

Images from the Vickers Instruments archive, held by the Borthwick Institute for Archives, digitised from glass negatives and glass lantern slides

Aero Girls

Collection of portraits of young women commissioned for use in Aero chocolate advertising from 1950 to 1957 by Rowntree & Co. Ltd.

Philip Rahtz Slide Collection

Digitised slides from the Philip Rahtz collection, showcasing archaeological digs in the UK and abroad from the 1950s onwards.

Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies Images

A collection of digitised slides from the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies, which was formerly based in the King's Manor, York.

University of York Art Collection

Photographs from the University of York Art Collection

Christopher Norton Images

Images from the slide collection of Prof. Christopher Norton, Dept. of History of Art

Painton Cowen Stained Glass Images

Digital photographs of stained glass windows (Medieval and later) from French and British cathedrals and churches, taken by Painton Cowen.

Archbishops' Registers

Archbishops' Registers of the Diocese of York, 1225-1646: Pilot Images

York Cause Papers

Cause Papers in the Diocesan Courts of the Archbishopric of York, 1300-1858