Archives+

09/03/2024

What an amazing Chinese new Year celebration. Thank you so much for joining us in Central Library.

15/08/2023

On Thursday 24 August we are pleased to be joined by the fantastic volunteers from LGBT Foundation
LGBT Foundation Archive Pop-Up: Queerly Beloved
11:00am - 2:00pm | Ground Floor (by the Glass Lifts) - Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester
Immerse yourself in LGBTQ+ history at the pop-up exhibition in Manchester Central Library. Discover selected items from LGBT Foundation's extensive archive collection, celebrating the transformative power of the dance floor for LGBTQ+ communities through the decades.
No booking needed, just come along to the library between 11am-2pm

12/08/2023

New blog! A lovely piece about the Special Collections held in Archives+ written by Diyar, a student on work placement from
Co-op Academy Manchester
Many thanks Diyar 👏👏

Introduction Manchester Central Library’s archives are full to the brim with enchanting, engaging and educational records of time, some of which are in the form of inspirational literature. T…

01/08/2023

Read about our fantastic day trip out to the salt mines to see where some of our collections are safely stored!

On Friday 7th July 2023 members of the archives team, both staff and volunteers, from Central Library visited DeepStore. DeepStore is part of a working rock salt mine that doubles as an offsite arc…

09/06/2023

Join us today for a brew & a trip down memory lane as we take a look at some memory boxes from our local image collections. If you're feeling creative we can show you how to make a start on your own memory box!
1-4pm, performance space, ground floor.

17/05/2023

What a find! Joel, one of our student placements has found this wonderful colour image from our 1974 tray. Painted by the "original Banksy" Walter Kershaw, the mural was on Manchester Road, Heywood, but sadly is no longer there. Does anyone remember seeing this? Pure Innovations

10/05/2023

images show the area around Corporation Street in 1974, when the Arndale Centre was being built. Notice the distinctive wavy M&S canopy on Corporation Street, sadly no longer there due to the rebuilding of this area after the bombing. Images scanned by students from The Manchester College

23/03/2023

Joel, who is currently on student placement with us from The Manchester College has chosen some old photos of the city centre from our local image collections to see how these areas look now. Photos 1 & 2: Debenhams, Market St 1974/2023. Photos 3 & 4: Kings St 1974/2023. Do you remember when they looked like this?

27/02/2023

Today Sania, student placement at A+ came across these photos of The Tufty Club. Launched in 1961, The Tufty Club helped children to learn about road safety. "These photos are from 1974, and I think the group are standing in front of Kennet House, Cheetham Hill. Does anyone remember The Tufty Club?"

06/02/2023

Some more local images from Etinosa, The Manchester College student on placement in ArchivesPlus.
Image 1 - Tesco on Old Church Street, 1974. Tesco shops looked quite different to how they look today!
Image 2 - Continuing the Tesco theme, back in 1974 this was the site of Manchester Garages. It is now a Tesco Superstore, Parrs Wood.
Image 3 - School children planting trees in the playing fields at St Peters RC Primary School, Wythenshawe, 1973. Those trees are much needed to counteract the pollution from the M56, which is at the side of the fence!
Image 4 - Construction yard, The Hire Centre, Toxteth Street, 1974.
Does anybody recognise any of these places?

30/01/2023

Usman, student from Manchester college currently digitising this image collection, found these wonderful old images of his local area today. The photos show Dickenson Rd market back in 1974 and Usman doesn't think it has changed, it looks the same as it does now! What do you think?
Dickenson Rd Block 7- Market- Longsight ref: 1974-1936

29/11/2022

LGBT Foundation Archive Pop-up for World AIDS Day – 1st December 2022, 11am-1pm at Central Library (Ground Floor)

Drop in to Manchester Central Library on World AIDS Day, to see a selection of items from the LGBT Foundation Archive at Archives+ which tell the story of HIV and AIDS awareness and activism in Manchester.

We will also be joined by our Sexual Health Team, who will be on hand to discuss HIV testing and support through the years and what is accessible in Greater Manchester today!

FREE, no need to book.

25/11/2022

Shelagh Delaney, in memory of the Salford writer who was born in Broughton on 25th November 1938.

22/11/2022

Join us on Monday next week for a free film screening of this brilliant film from Oxygen Arts. Two and a half questions is a film exploring the lives and aspirations of the Windrush generation and those who came after them. Carol Ann from The Zebra Partnership will be with us too to chair the Q&A following the film with the producer and director Oxygen Arts

Don’t miss it! Monday 28 November, 5:30pm - 7pm

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/film-screening-of-two-and-a-half-questions-plus-qa-tickets-454893718357?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Two and a Half Questions is an exploration of the lives and aspirations of the Windrush generation and those who came after them.

26/09/2022

Read North West Sounds Heritage's latest blog and hear about the North West Mixtape film and how two sound artists from the region made personal works responding to the sound archive. All these archive recording where recently 'unlocked' and are now available as part of the Lottery Heritage Fund's Unlocking Our Sound Heritage project: https://northwestsoundheritage.org/2022/09/24/north-west-mixtape-with-freda-wallace-gary-fisher/

07/06/2022

takes place next week & we’ve got a fantastic line up of events for you. On 15 June, 4-7pm at Central Library, we invite you to explore Activism past, present & future at our archives handling showcase. Get inspired & add your views to our Wall of Activism. 🪧Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre and Education Trust North West Film Archive Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society LGBT Foundation GMCDP Taking Action - Young Disabled People

05/06/2022

Today as people celebrate the at street parties across the country, let’s take a look back at how we celebrated back in 1977 for the Silver bit.ly/3NTzlBs 🎉🎊🥳

How Manchester celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee in 1977