Facilities and cultural partners

Explore a wealth of archives, libraries, museums and other research institutions in Manchester and beyond.

Manchester's research institutions are world-class. The University of Manchester Library (together with the John Rylands Library), with over 4.5m books and vast archives of historical material and rare volumes, is second to none. It is one of the few university libraries with the prestigious status of a national research library.

Externally we are supplemented by the rich library and archive holdings of Greater Manchester. Archives contain crucial information on the mainly institutional past of our societies. Historians at Manchester maintain close relationships with different archives; not only with the obvious TNA (The National Archives UK, Kew), county record offices but also with far-away places like Venice or Nigeria.

You can also find a rich array of material remains of past cultures in the museums of the Manchester region. Most important are the holdings of the Manchester Museum, one of the most precious private collections in the country, and an institution with which the School enjoys special links.

Woman working at desk in library

The University of Manchester Library

One of the few university libraries with the prestigious status of a national research library.
Students walking on the library stairs

The John Rylands Library

Home to one of the world's finest collections of medieval illuminated manuscripts and rare books.
Students looking at books in library

Chetham's Library

Chetham's Library is of particular importance to medieval and early-modern historians.
Metal figurines

The People's History Museum

Former Edwardian pumping station housing displays on local and national working-class life.
Exterior of the Working Class Movement Library

Working-Class Movement Library

Unrivalled collection of often otherwise unobtainable publications and records of the labour movement.
Male student using virtual archive screen

Central Library

Far more than an ordinary city public library especially for nineteenth- to mid twentieth century history.

Museums around Manchester

Woman looking at art

Manchester Art Gallery

Publicly owned art museum on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre.
Man holding lizard doing demonstration to students in museum

Manchester Museum

Housing important prehistorics, classical and ethnographic collections.
Tank outside Imperial War Museum North building

Imperial War Museum North

This museum explores the impact of modern conflicts on people and society.
Painted scene of the history of transport on a brick wall next to train track

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (MOSI)

Devoted to the development of science, technology and industry.
Girl sat on bench sketching in a gallery

The Whitworth

Discover more about the award-winning art gallery and take a look at the must-see highlights.

Using our cultural assets for your studies

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    Publications

    For a selection of publications by historians from our division, see our History at Manchester bookshelf on Pinterest.