Library and archive collections
The Port and River Library and Archives contains an outstanding collection of material relating to the conservation of the river, the operation of the enclosed docks, port management, employment and social history, together with material specifically collected to chart the wider-ranging changes which have taken place in Docklands since 1979.
Around seventy per cent of the collection is formed by the archive of the Port of London Authority (PLA) and its predecessor dock companies and river conservancy bodies. Until its formal transfer to the Museum of London, in 1986, this material formed the largest single collection of business records in private hands in the United Kingdom.
The Museum also holds a wide ranging collection of non PLA material.
The Library and Archive is the intellectual platform which supports the whole development of the Museum of London Docklands. It is an outstanding resource which enriches the Museum’s displays and educational programmes, publications and curatorial activities.
In addition to the dock-related material, the Museum also holds the Sainsbury business archive, one of the most significant collections of company records and artefacts in the country.
Please click on the links imbedded in the text or to the left to explore the library and archives further. You may also want to read our Frequently Asked Questions page which answers some of the more common enquiries received by our archive staff.
All the material is held in the Sainsbury Study Centre. This state of the art facility allows research access to both the Sainsbury and Port and River collection.
Notice
The Port & River Archives enquiry service and research appointments is temporarily suspended from 28 February 2013.
This is because our current archivist is leaving the Museum for another post and we are recruiting for a replacement. The service will resume once the new archivist is in post, which we anticipate will occur in July 2013.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
For non-archive related enquiries please email info@museumoflondon.org.uk.
