The Archives at NCBS is a public collecting centre for the history of science in contemporary India. The Archives at NCBS opens with five manuscript collections (with the prefix, MS), seven institutional collections (NS or NI), two artefact collections (AT), two bibliographic collections (BB), and an oral history collection (OH). The holdings are in various forms, ranging from manuscripts to negatives to photographs, books, fine art, audio recordings, scientific equipment, letters, field and lab notes.
A small fraction of the material is available in digital format with detailed descriptions. This will keep growing and visitors are encouraged to keep checking in for more digital material. Contact the Archives if you’d like to access digital copies of any of the material in the finding aids. The best way to understand the full nature of material in the collections is by visiting the detailed finding aids on our ArchivesSpace digital catalogue.
The Archives at NCBS will always be a work in progress. Collections are periodically added, revised and updated. Its growth also depends on the participation of the broader community. To contribute material or share opinions and feedback about the Archives, please do write to us at 
Featured Collections
Leslie Coleman Papers
Leslie Charles Coleman was an entomologist and plant pathologist, who was appointed as the first Director of Agriculture in Mysore State. He is renowned for setting up local agricultural and experimental unions and research institutions...[Read More]
Obaid Siddiqi Papers
Obaid Siddiqi (1932-2013), was the co-founder and first Centre Director of the National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore. Siddiqi worked extensively on the genetic neurobiology of the fruit fly, Drosophila...[Read More]
MS Swaminathan Papers
The MS Swaminathan Papers contain over 48000 archival objects from 80+ years, covering agricultural research through correspondence, field notes, photographs, administrative documents, media clippings and more...[Read More]
Collection Themes
- 5 Manuscript collections
- 7 Institutional collections
- 3 Artefact collections
- 2 Bibliographic collections
- 1 Oral History Interviews repository
