The CA’s inspired founding father Herbert J Hanson was the driving force behind the library for half a century: much of the archive collection was put together by him personally and many other volumes were acquired as a result of Hanson’s rule (now no longer in force) that new members must donate a book on joining the organisation. 

Some six hundred of the finest and earliest volumes are now in the possession of Cambridge University Library where they are stored as the Hanson Collection of the Cruising Association. They can be seen and used there by any CA member on application.