India Office Library

The India Office Library was a vast research collection established in London to support the work of the India Office, a British government department managing colonial affairs in India. It housed extensive books, documents, maps, photographs, and manuscripts related to Indian history, culture, politics, and administration. Opened in 1899, it served scholars, historians, and administrators studying India, and played a key role in preserving the British colonial legacy. In 1986, it merged with the British Library’s Asian and African collections, forming the Asian and African Studies section. The collection remains a valuable resource for researchers interested in India’s history and heritage.