How to access the archive
Digital access
You can browse our digital collections via our Digitisation Portal.
The portal is not a catalogue so if you are looking for particular records we recommend that you consult the Guide to the Archive available on this site. The guide includes links to detailed catalogues where available. The Guide also indicates if a collection of papers is accessible online. If there is no link to an online resource you will need to make an appointment to visit the Archive in person.
Visit in person
The Baring Archive is open to the public, by prior appointment only, for research and educational purposes.
If you wish to consult material in the Archive, you should send an email to the Archivist with details of your reasons for wishing to access the Archive. Access may be refused at the discretion of the Archivist. You should note that research places are limited and you should attempt to give as much notice as possible of your wish to visit the Archive. You will be required to sign a copy of our standard conditions of access on or before your first visit as a condition of access.
There is no established formal closure period within which archives are unavailable for research; the great diversity of information contained within the archives makes this unsuitable. The availability for research of all series and individual groups of archives is considered on an individual basis. However, archive material dated after 1950 is not generally available to researchers.
Download our full Access Policy.