John Rylands Library, Manchester

The special collections and Manchester Medical Society Library are Designated Collections of national importance.

The special collections represent an outstanding national and regional resource, combining material of international significance with collections directly relevant to the history and wider impact of Manchester and the North West. The Manchester Medical Society Library contains medical printed books dating between c. 1800-1950, associated with the Manchester Medical Society.

Manuscripts and Archives: The Library’s manuscript collections originated in Mrs Rylands’s purchase of the personal collection of the Earl of Crawford in 1901. Holdings of individual manuscript items now cover more than fifty languages, including all the major European and Middle Eastern languages, and numerous Far Eastern scripts. They span five millennia, and are written on virtually every medium ever employed. The subject range is vast, encompassing literary, historical, antiquarian, genealogical, biblical, devotional, ritualistic, medical, scientific, legal and administrative texts.

The Library first acquired archive collections in the 1920s when local landed families were invited to donate or deposit their papers. In addition to family muniment collections, the Library now holds the archives of numerous companies, business associations, trade unions, charities, social organizations and religious institutions. The Methodist Church and other Nonconformist denominations are particularly well represented.

The archives of Manchester University and the papers of individual scientists and academics are another important element in the Library’s holdings, while the large archive of the Manchester Guardian newspaper is a key resource for a wide range of research interests. In another area, the Library is continually adding to its wealth of 20th-century literary and dramatic archives.

Printed Book Collections: The printed book collections of the JRULM are among the finest in the world. The foundation stone of the Library’s printed collections was laid in 1892 when Mrs Rylands purchased the Spencer Collection. This was generally acknowledged to be the finest library then in private ownership.

The JRULM holds some 4,000 incunables, representing over 500 European presses, including the largest collection of Aldines in the world and the second largest collection of works printed by Caxton. There are some 12,500 books printed between 1475 and 1640, and some 45,000 printed between 1641 and 1700. 18th- and 19th-century holdings comprise 160,000 and 400,000 volumes respectively.

These collections encompass almost all the landmarks of printing through five centuries, including magnificent illustrated books, examples of fine printing, landmark works in typography, key historical texts and exquisite bookbindings. They cover a wide range of subjects: theology and philosophy; economic, social, political and military history; travel and exploration; literature, drama and music; art and archaeology; science and medicine.

The Labour History Archive and Study Centre (LHASC): The only specialist repository for the political wing of the Labour movement. It holds records for working class political organisations from the Chartists to New Labour. LHASC holds the archives of the Labour Party and the Communist Party of Great Britain. The collections have been used for a variety of research purposes providing an insight into the social, political and economic life of the last two centuries. Besides housing papers of political organisations the LHASC collects the personal papers of radical politicians, writers and left wing organisations.

The archives are managed by the John Rylands University Library of Manchester and are housed at the People's History Museum's head office at 103 Princess Street, Manchester. The Labour History Archive and Study Centre is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Board. The archive collection compliments the objects, photographs and banners found in the museum' s collections and researchers may well find material of interest in both.

Collection details

Social History, Literature, Archives

Key artists and exhibits

• Methodist Archives and Research Centre
• Labour History Archive and Study Centre
• Designated Collection

Collections services

• General guide to collections available
• Public access available to collections information
• Specialist publications on collections available