Q. I’ve been told the IOE has ‘archives’ – what archives do you have and how can I access these collections?

The Institute of Education holds collections of archive materials ranging in date from 1797 to the present day. 

These archives are intended to reflect the broadest possible range of issues and concerns surrounding teaching and lifelong learning in past, present and future societies. This includes all levels of education from pre-school and school through to further, higher, teacher and adult education, in formal, informal and experimental settings. It includes research, practice, policy and thought in education and related areas. They provide a rich resource for the history of education and educationists both in this country and abroad.

Broadly speaking, the archives are split into 2 groups:

Deposited Collections, given to us by people and organisations related in some way to education. There are over 130 of these, ranging in size from one box to over 300.  An A-Z list of the archive collections can be seen here:  http://libguides.ioe.ac.uk/archivecollections

The IOE's own Institute Archive, comprising the records of the Institute of Education itself, dating from its creation in 1902 is also housed in London at Bedford Way.