Deposit Archives

Preserve Our Local Archives: Appeal

Why Deposit?

We are an active collecting repository and we are always delighted to hear about records or documents (in all formats, including photographs and ephemera) from/relating to Cork city and county.

Local archives from Cork document many unique aspects of the history of our city and county, organisations, and people. By depositing archives in CCCA, depositors are ensuring that they are properly preserved and made appropriately available for research, and that they will be a permanent public resource as part of Cork's public records.  Depositing an archive is a major contribution to our local heritage, history, culture, learning and research.

About Cork City and County Archives

CCCA is Cork's public archives service, established in 1971-2. We are a section of, and operated by, Cork City Council, and we are also jointly funded and supported by Cork County Council and University College Cork. We are responsible for preserving local archives from Cork city and county. Under the local government acts, it is a statutory function of the Council to acquire local archives, to ensure their proper management, custody, care and preservation, and to make them available for public research and inspection. Local archives includes local government records of enduring value, and deposited archives acquired by purchase, donation, bequest or loan.

What facilities does CCCA offer?

Archives deposited in the CCCA are preserved and managed under proper archival conditions in a purpose built archives repository, the Seamus Murphy Building, in accordance with archival best practice, and under the control of qualified and experienced professional archivists. Damage treatment, repairs and conservation of archives are carried out. We compile detailed lists and finding aids of collection contents. Access to, and handling of, archives is strictly managed. We also have excellent digitisation capabilities.

What material is accepted?

The CCCA acquires unique corporate/organisational, and personal/family records of historic interest originating from/relating to, Cork City and County. Deposited records will be appraised, by an archivist, as having enduring archival value.

Records are accepted in hard copy and digital format and in all forms, such as: 

  • Manuscript and typescript papers
  • Diaries, journals
  • Correspondence
  • Files
  • Bound volumes e.g. minute books, account books, letterbooks, scrapbooks
  • Maps, plans and drawings
  • Legal documents, deeds
  • Photographs/Digital Photographs- prints and negatives
  • Printed ephemera e.g. collections of one-off concert or match or commemorative programmes, almanacks, directories, booklets and leaflets, posters, tickets etc. 
  • Audio/Visual recordings
  • Electronic records and documents

We do not, in general, acquire collections of published books, journals or magazines, although small numbers of these may form part of an acquired archive.

We do not, in general, acquire 3-D objects or archaeological artefacts.

How to Deposit Archives

If you have information about an archive, or to arrange a deposit, please contact the Senior Archivist. Standard terms and conditions apply, and special conditions may also be agreed, such as, the restriction of research access to some or all of the deposited archive for a set period. We encourage depositors to deposit material as a donation or bequest as this enables CCCA to ensure its preservation as a permanent public resource. 

What happens to material following deposit?

Archives will either become the property of the CCCA, or its responsibility, to be administered and processed in accordance with the policies, functions, and procedures of the CCCA and of Cork City Council, with due regard to legal requirements, and agreed deposit conditions. We properly preserve collections and make them appropriately accessible for research.

Tomas MacCurtain and Michael Collins Photographs
Tomas MacCurtain and Michael Collins. Photographs from Hallahan Photo. Album