The Social History Archive. Millions of records and newspapers. One archive.
The most comprehensive online archive of British, Irish, and former Empire historical resources for academic research and teaching. The continually growing collection contains hundreds of millions of images of historical records and newspapers, supporting a broad range of scholarly interests.
UNCOVER THE STORIES THAT SHAPED THE WORLD
Explore The Social History Archive
Our current holdings include:
Newspapers - over 2,600 historical newspaper titles, 7 million issues, and 89 million pages spanning 1699 to 2012.
Records - over 2,800 record sets, 470 million images, and 3.6 billion transcribed entries, spanning from the thirteenth century to 2025.
The Social History Archive supports interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences, providing access to rich primary sources that reveal patterns, trace developments, and illuminate historical contexts. Ideal for original research and teaching excellence, the archive connects students and faculty with the stories that shaped the world.
FLEXIBLE ACCESS FOR EVERY INSTITUTION
The Social History Archive is designed for flexibility
From curated Primary Source Series designed for targeted research to comprehensive All Newspapers, All Records or All Access packages, our content options support all your research and teaching needs. Access is available via annual subscription or purchase agreement to best align with your institution’s priorities.
The Social History Archive also participates in the JISC Digital Archival Collections Group Purchasing Scheme.
COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
Primary source content for research and teaching
Newspapers, records, and Primary Source Series providing unparalleled access to British, Irish, and former Empire history.
Simple, secure access for your institution
Designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing academic ecosystem, providing secure access for all your users.
Authentication
Seamless access via institutional SSO or IP/EZProxy
Discoverability
Integration into discoverability through KBART and MARC
Usage reporting
Compliance with COUNTER and SUSHI
TRUSTED DIGITISATION PARTNERS
Authentic history, digitally discoverable
In partnership with leading archives and institutions, we digitise historical records and newspapers into rich, research-ready collections that expand access, support rigorous scholarship, and deepen engagement. Developed with the British Library and other prominent institutions, and grounded in D.C. Thomson’s 120-year heritage, The Social History Archive is trusted worldwide by archives, museums, and research organisations. Our continually growing collections provide an unparalleled foundation for interdisciplinary research and teaching across the humanities and social sciences.
Stories of discovery and impact
STORIES BEHIND THE SOURCES
From the archive
Our blog brings the archive to life. Read about fascinating historical discoveries, explore new thematic collections, and see how our records and newspapers inform research and teaching today.
