The Anglo-Jewish Archives are part of the University of Southampton Special Collections, based in Southampton. The collection contains records from a large number of organisations as well as the personal papers of significant individuals in Anglo-Jewish history.

Archive Description

The Anglo-Jewish Archives contain important holdings for prominent individuals and national organisations. Papers of individuals include those of Cecil Roth, Selig Brodetsky, and the private and official papers of Rabbi Solomon Schonfeld. This latter collection contains a large section relating to the work of the Chief Rabbi’s Religious Emergency Council and the rescue of members of the Jewish community in the 1930s and 1940s.

Archives of organisations include those of the Jewish Board of Guardians, the Anglo-Jewish Association, editorial correspondence of the Jewish Chronicle newspaper, the Union of Jewish Women, the World Union of Progressive Judaism and the Institute of Jewish Affairs and the British Section of the World Jewish Congress.

The archive of Dr James Parkes focuses on his life’s work of the promotion of understanding between Jews and non-Jews; this complements the printed material held in the Parkes Library. Related inter-faith collections include the archives of the International Association for Religious Freedom, of the Council of Christians and Jews, the World Congress of Faiths, of Revd W.W.Simpson.

Access Information

As part of the University of Southampton Special Collections, the Anglo-Jewish Archives are available to members of the public. Initial applications to access the material must be sent by post to the Head of Special Collections at the address listed at the bottom of this page.

Subsequent appointments must also be made in advance and can be done by telephoning 02380 592721 or emailing Archives@soton.ac.uk.

Visitors will also need to bring photographic identification and proof of residential address on their first visit to the archive.

Full access details can be found here, on the Special Collection’s website.

The Archives reading room is open Monday-Friday 9.30 am – 5 pm.

Online Accessibility

Digital material is available in Southampton’s Virtual Reading Room, including the records of the Anglo-Jewish Association.

A searchable guide to the Archive & Manuscript’s Jewish collection is also available online.

Street Address

Hartley Library
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ