Working Class Movement Library






Working people have always struggled to get their voices heard. The Working Class Movement Library records over 200 years of organising and campaigning by ordinary men and women. Our collection provides a rich insight into working people's daily lives as well as their thoughts, hopes, fears and the roles they played in the significant events of their time.
We have information on:
• The trades and lives of people who worked in the past - brushmakers, silk workers, tailors, boilermakers and others
• Trade unions, where people have banded together to improve their working conditions
• Politics and campaigns, from Chartism to the General Strike and more recent protests
• Creativity and culture - drama, literature, music, art and leisure
• Important people who have led activist lives
• International events such as the Spanish Civil War, and aspects of Irish history
Much of this information is held in books, pamphlets or leaflets. Many more stories are told by our photos, banners and tape recordings.
Our collection captures many points of view to tell the story of Britain's working classes from the beginning of industrialisation to the present day.
Our oldest items date from the 1760s. From the 1820s we have some of the earliest trade union documents to have survived.
We have material on politics of all shades and come right up to date with the archive of Jim Allen, the Manchester-born screenwriter who worked on Coronation Street and collaborated with film director Ken Loach.
Venue Type:
Library, Archive
Additional info
Everyone is welcome to drop by to view our ground floor displays. To use the reading room to study, please contact us in advance to make an appointment.
There are important collections on Thomas Paine, Peterloo, Chartism, rise of trade unionism, Socialism, Labour Party, Communist Party of Great Britain, Ireland, Spanish Civil War, General Strike, CND, suffragettes and suffragists, Co-operative movement.
Collection details
Social History, Photography, Music, Literature, Industry, Film and Media, Archives

Exhibition: The power of unity - 150 years of the TUC
- 27 April — 27 September 2018
In 1868 at the Mechanics' Institute in Manchester a meeting took place that became the first successful attempt to bring together the trades unions. This exhibition celebrates 150 years of the Trades Union Congress and looks at the continuing need for unions now.
And on Thursday 17 May from 2-5pm we host a celebratory event alongside our exhibition, with Clare Coatman from the North West TUC young workers’ project talking about the future of unions, and reaching out to young workers. Join us for discussion and cake!
Exhibitions are open Wednesdays to Fridays 1-5pm, and the first Saturday of most months 10am-4pm.
Website

Salford University - Animating the Archives
- 16 May 2018 2-5pm
Students from the University’s School of Arts and Media take over the Library space with theatre performances and presentations inspired by archival materials. Drop in; admission free; all welcome.
Working Class Movement Library
51 The Crescent
Salford
Greater Manchester
M5 4WX
England
Website
Telephone
0161 736 3601
Fax
0161 737 4115
- About
- | Collections
- | Exhibitions
- | Events
- | Map