The Clive Collection, comprising the papers of Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey (1725-1774), Governor of Bengal 1757-1760 and 1765-1767; Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis (1754-1839), Governor of Madras 1798-1804 and other family members."

The major part of this collection comprises the incoming correspondence received by Clive and members of his circle, particularly Margaret, Lady Clive, Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis and Henry Strachey. In addition to this, there are a significant number of petitions addressed either to Clive as a private individual or which came to him as the occupant of the post to which the petition was addressed. The collection also holds a very siginificant quantity of coriginals and copies of Company documents. These include military returns of men and stores, copies of and extracts from the General Letters sent between the Court of Directors and the Indian Presidencies, financial documents relating to the collection of revenue in Bengal and to the annual accounts of the Presidencies, reports and proposals submitted to the Company and papers relating to Clive's work on behalf of the Company, particularly during his terms as Governor of Fort William and in command of Company forces. The bulk of the collection is formed of papers created between 1751 and 1774.

The current arrangement follows the order imposed upon the collection before it was acquired by the India Office. Mss Eur G37/1-19 and Mss Eur G37/96 contain a variety of correspondence, papers and accounts. Mss Eur G37/20-74 contain mainly incoming correspondence and copies of official correspondence. Mss Eur G37/75-85/2 contain personal financial records of Clive and his family. Mss Eur G37/86-91 contain military returns of men and stores. Mss Eur G37/92-93 contain Company letters. Mss Eur G37/94-95 contain petitions and letters requesting assistance.

Unrestricted

The collection was deposited on permanent loan to the India Office Library and Records by the 5th Earl of Powis in 1956 and subsequently purchased.

Other collections containing papers relalative to the Clives can be found in the Orme collection, the Sutton Court Collection (Mss Eur F128) and the Verelst Collection (Mss Eur F218). The collection in the National Library of Wales contains copy letterbooks containing Clive's outgoing correspondence, together with estate papers, financial papers and personal papers. Shropshire Record Office also holds a significant quantity of estate papers.

Throughout this list, where the name "Clive" stands without further clarification, the person referred to is Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey. Other members of the family, or cases where the reference is unclear have been referred to in full or with their title(s).