The collected papers of the Rt Hon the Lord Owen, former Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, cover his political career from his early Labour Party membership until his retirement as SDP MP for Plymouth Devonport. The main body of records date from c.1962-1995, although the collection also contains some earlier material relating to David Owen's family life and education.

Close to 700 boxes of records in various media, including correspondence, MS notes, memoranda and reports, committee papers, speech transcripts, news cuttings and publications, campaign material, photographs and cartoons and video and cassette recordings.