Our Collections

SOFO is an umbrella which looks after three collections that comprise the military heritage of the region.

These archives and objects are the property of three bodies: the Trustees of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the Trustees of the Oxfordshire Yeomanry and Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust.

Oxfordshire's military heritage ranges from the Civil War to the present day, covering the Napoleonic War, the Boer War and the two World Wars, in which every village was involved.

The archives and objects are important tools in researching, explaining and understanding this history.

Collections Services

Archive Image Requests

To order an image, please use our eHive online catalogue search below and make a note of the object number (i.e. SOFO:1234). Visit our Shop section of the website, select your preferred image option, and enter the object number when ordering.

Images for personal use are £25 each, commercial use images are £50 each.

**Please Note** We are currently in the process of digitising our collections and are adding images as they are produced. If you are unable to find the image you are searching for, please email collections@sofo.org.uk with your request.

Archive Visits

Archive visits for research can be booked with the Collections Manager. Please email collections@sofo.org.uk with the reference numbers or description of objects you would like to see, and your reason for visiting the archive.

Please note: museum entry charges will still apply when visiting the archive. No photography is allowed in the archive.

Exhibition Loans

If you are a museum or heritage institution, we can loan you items from our collection for exhibition. Our Collaborations page shows how we have supported projects in the past.

You can also request archive objects for your daytime or evening event. Archive object loans are contingent on the second party having a lockable case available for display. For daytime or evening events, we will provide a quote based on transport to the venue, set up, and whether you would like accompanying interpretation.

Please contact collections@sofo.org.uk for further information.

Handling loan boxes are available for hire through our Learning and Outreach Officer, please contact education@sofo.org.uk for more information.