The AC Archives contain a wide-ranging collection of documents going back to the earliest days of mountaineering, and as such form an invaluable resource for researchers. A short list of highlights is given below

• Diaries, personal accounts of expeditions and ascents, and correspondence, including, for example, the first letter to be written from the summit of Mont Blanc, and Mallory's last letter to Odell from Camp 6 on Everest.
• The original Fuhrerbucher/Carnets of leading alpine guides.
• The archives of the Ladies' Alpine Club
• Newspaper cuttings from the mid 19th century to the present time.
• Minutes of Alpine Club meetings and newsletters from the foundation of the Club in 1857 to the present day (restricted access)
• Membership application papers (restricted access)
• Presidential and Secretarial papers (restricted access)

A catalogue of the archive can be found on National Archives Discovery Use the filters on the lefthand side to limit your results to the Alpine Club Archives.

Access to material

Access to archive material can be provided when the library is open.

Tuesdays 10.00am - 5.00pm Wednesdays 10.00am - 5.00pm Thursdays 10.00am - 5.00pm

Requests for archive material should be sent one week in advance so that the Hon Archivist or Librarian has time to locate the material and make it available for viewing.

Some material may not be available due to embargos or because it contains information pertaining to current members.

To arrange to see the archive email library@alpineclub.org

If you are not a member of the AC then a donation of £10.00 is requested to help with funding access and preservation.

Scans of some material can be made on request. Charges will depend on the material.