Over 350,000 pages of historical documents are being digitised and made available online as part of the Georgian Papers Programme, giving an unprecedented level of access to the entire collection of Georgian Archives, including the official and private papers of King George III, normally housed at Windsor Castle.

King’s is leading the five year programme,  officially launched  by Her Majesty the Queen in April 2015, working in partnership with the  Royal Archives,  and primary partners in the US, the  Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture  and the  William and Mary College.

Researchers from  History,  English,  Music  and  War Studies  are already working with archivists to transfer online the documents, including official and private papers Britain’s Hanoverian monarchs, as well as other members of the Royal Family, politicians, courtiers and the Privy Purse, and to transform our understanding of a nation and monarchy in a period of immense change.

Visiting Professors, starting with the inaugural  Sons of the American Revolution Visiting Professor Andrew O’ Shaughnessy, an historian and award winning author, will also work on their own research and lead an academic seminar or series of seminars on the interpretation of the archive in relation to their own work. A number of fellows supported by Omohundro Institute and King’s have already started working on the Archives and will shortly be joined by another supported by‎ ‎Mount Vernon.

King’s has an historic association with the Georgian Archives. The bulk of a collection of scientific instruments accumulated by King George III and others was donated by Queen Victoria to King’s in 1841 for public display and use in scientific demonstrations and experiments. The university converted one of its libraries into a museum for the purpose of exhibiting these and the George III Museum in the King’s Building at the Strand was opened on 22 June 1843 by Queen Victoria’s husband Albert, Prince Consort.

Image: ‘George III, Queen Charlotte and their six eldest children.’ Oil painting by Johan Joseph Zoffany (Frankfurt 1733 – 1810). Royal Collection Trust / (c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016