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Our Archive

Preserving our past. Recording our present. Inspiring our future

Our Archive team at the Royal Society of Arts is here to guide and inspire you through our rich heritage. 

Whether you’re exploring the Great Exhibition, the iconic Great Room paintings by James Barry, the RSA Premium Awards, or any aspect of our rich history, you’ve come to the right place.

Have questions or want to arrange a tour of our secure archive or RSA House?
We’d love to hear from you, get in touch today.

Search the Archive catalogue

Browse minutes, membership lists, Transactions, correspondence, artworks, photographs and more.

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A collage featuring a classical building sketch, a bust statue, a decorative vase, handwritten notes, embroidered flowers, red geometric floral shapes, and overlapping text about an archival event at RSA House.

Archive Lates

Join us for a truly memorable experience, offering an after hours house tour led by our expert archivist.

Book a tour
A digital collage shows a floral painting centred between two mobile phone screens displaying an art tour app. The Bloomberg Connects logo appears below the images on a black background.

Digital guide

Enhance your visit to the Royal Society of Arts with our free digital guide available through Bloomberg Connects.

Discover our House

Sound archive

Our recordings on the British Library sound & moving image catalogue.

Architectural drawing of a classical building facade with columns, arches, and statues. The inscription "SOC.VET.ARTIUM LOND" is visible. The design features symmetry and ornamental details, emphasizing the grandeur of the structure.

JSTOR

Our Transactions and Journals, 1783-2011 (Before 1870 free).

Red background with an ornate letter "J" in white, surrounded by beige floral designs inside a square. Below the square, "STOR" is written in white uppercase letters.

Art UK

Our page on the UK’s national collection of oil paintings.

A historical painting depicts a large group of figures in 18th-century attire, gathered around a grand architectural setting. There's a prominent statue and painting in the background. The scene captures a sense of importance and dialogue among the people.
Architectural drawing of a classical building facade with columns, arches, and statues. The inscription "SOC.VET.ARTIUM LOND" is visible. The design features symmetry and ornamental details, emphasizing the grandeur of the structure.

Unlock the history of RSA spaces

Take a journey through time with our Blue Plaques, explore them online or as you walk through the house.

Learn more
A historic illustration of a crowded assembly hall with numerous people gathered around a central table. The walls are adorned with large, detailed murals depicting various scenes and figures. The setting appears formal and ceremonial.

Our History

Looking to the future since 1754. Find out more about the famous names and change made in the past.

Explore

Explore stories from our archive

RSArchive

Drawing similarities

RSA Senior Archivist Abby Matthews argues that museums and archives do more than preserve the past. At their best, they ignite conversations between generations, reimagining memories and mapping the futures we choose to build
15 Apr 2026 Abby Matthews
A detailed, vintage map of a city with closely packed streets, labelled blocks, and outlined sections. Prominent roads and buildings are visible, evoking the feel of archive maps treasured by generations. Subtle colours highlight boundary lines throughout.
RSArchive

Sweeping change

RSA Resident Historian Anton Howes reflects on how a competition to create a mechanical chimney cleaner helped to outlaw the use of child chimney sweeps across the rooftops of Britain.
10 Dec 2025 Anton Howes
RSArchive

Minding the gaps

The RSA’s newly appointed senior archivist, Abby Matthews, reflects on archives, missing identities and the artefacts that connect us.
23 Sep 2025 Abby Matthews
A woman with wavy dark hair smiles softly, wearing a large, wide-brimmed hat and a lace-collared blouse with a jacket. The image is black and white, with a soft, vintage look.
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