The Manchester Museum is a University institution, which owes its origins to the collections of the Manchester Natural History Society, founded in 1821. The Museum serves both academic and public audiences, and has been described as "a university collection with civic responsibilities" [Alberti,
The Manchester Natural History Society was founded in 1821 by a group of Manchester mercantile and professional men. Established as the "Manchester Society for the Promotion of Natural History", the Society originally looked after the collection of one of its members, Thomas Robertson, who had previously purchased part of the collection of John Leigh Philips (1761-1814). Philips had been one of Manchester's leading collectors of art and natural objects, and it was the latter category of material which Robertson had acquired on Philips' death. On Robertson's death, the Society purchased his collection, and transferred it to premises in King St. These proved unsuitable for displaying the collection, and the Society began to raise funds to build a museum. This was completed in Peter Street in central Manchester, and opened in May 1835.
The Society was typical of the "elite" learned societies, which appeared in the early 19th century Manchester. The presidents of the Society were Edward Holme (1821-1847), John Moore (1847-1857) and J A Turner (1857-1868). The collections were curated by a mixture of Society members and Museum employees. In 1834, William Crawford Williamson was appointed Chief Curator to oversee the collections, and was succeeded by Thomas Brown (1838-1862) and Thomas Alcock (1862-1868). The Society also employed taxidermists to prepare exhibits. The Society's collections were particularly strong for geology, mineralogy and vertebrate zoology, although there were also items which fell into the "curiosity" category, such as an Egyptian mummy, a Buddha and the skeleton of Napoleon's horse,
By the 1860s, the Natural History Society had lost some of its momentum; it was facing competition from the nearby Salford Museum, opened in 1850, and the Society had petitioned Manchester Corporation for financial help. In 1868, the Society dissolved itself, and agreed to transfer its collections to Owens College. The Society set up a commission to administer the collections during this interim period, and to dispose of the Society's financial assets. In 1872, the Peter St. Museum was sold, and the money was used to endow a new museum building, and support its staff and collections. Owens College saw potential in the museum collections for its teaching and research activities, but could not accommodate these in its Quay St building. Its planned removal to Oxford Road, completed in 1873, offered the prospect of a purpose-built home, but when the collections (which included the Geological Society's collection) were transferred to the new building, they did not have proper accommodation, and were kept in the attics of the main building for several years.
Owens consulted leading figures about the requirements of the new museum including the naturalist T H Huxley. At this stage, the Museum was seen as having a primarily academic function. Academics and students were to be granted privileged access to the collections, although public access to the collections was also envisaged. The new regime at the Museum tended to be academic in sympathy, confirmed by the appointment of the geologist William Boyd Dawkins as curator in 1869. Dawkins, who later became professor of geology at Owens, maintained a connection of over 50 years with the Museum, and was crucial in setting the tone for its activities. A Museum Committee was appointed to oversee its work in 1888, and this too was dominated by its academic members.
Designs for new Museum were drawn up by Alfred Waterhouse, who had already designed the main College building. The Museum was to be an imposing neo-Gothic building (very different in conception from Waterhouse's better-known design for the Natural History Museum in London) in the north-east corner of the main quadrangle, and close to the departments of botany, zoology and geology. The foundation stone was laid in 1882, and the Museum opened in 1888. At this stage, it comprised a large central hall with two surrounding galleries.
Academic staff played a significant role in the early years of the Museum; they were responsible for the classification of collections, and also influenced collecting policy. There were relatively few full-time curatorial staff. In 1889, Dawkins gave up his role as keeper and was succeeded by William Evans Hoyle (keeper, 1889-1900, director, 1900-1909). Hoyle and his successors Walter Medley Tattersall (keeper, 1909-1922) and Rev. Dr George H Carpenter (keeper, 1923-1934) were zoologists. Vertebrate palaeontology enjoyed special prestige in the collections. The Museum continued to depend on financial donations from benefactors, as well as funds from the University of Manchester and grants from Manchester Council. Building projects were particularly dependent on fund-raising, and the local businessman and collectors, proved important in supporting the 1912 and 1927 extensions to the building. A subscribers group also helped raise money.
During the First World War, the Museum began to receive visits from school children on a regular basis (in part, this was due to schools being displaced from their buildings due to the War). A formal programme of school visits was begun with the support of Manchester Education Authority, which employed teachers to carry out this work. Schools visits were predominantly for primary school children, and during the inter-war period, school children formed the largest group of visitors to the Museum. The Education Service continued to be supported by the local council until the mid-1990s, and school children still form one of the most important categories of visitor to the Museum.
During the inter-war period, there was a perceptible shift in the Museum's work from the scientific to "cultural" collections - archaeology, anthropology and Egyptology. This reflected in part a decline in use of the Museum by the University's scientific departments, which increasingly focussed on laboratory work, and also to growing public interest in this type of cultural collection. Of particular note, was the public interest in Egyptology in this period, and the Manchester Egyptian and Oriental Society enjoyed a close relationship with the Museum. Archaeological excavations, particularly in the Mediterranean area, were making more ancient human material available, and colonial exploration and trade stimulated the exchange of ethnological items. In 1927, a further extension of the Museum to the north of the main building reflected this change in emphasis with new galleries dedicated to archaeology, ethnography, Egyptology and numismatics (the latter an "unintended" development due to a major donation by Reuben Spencer in 1904]. The rise of the cultural collections was reflected in the appointment of R. U. Sayce as Keeper in 1935 [Sayce built up British ethnography collection, which was transferred to Salford Museum in 1969].
By the post-war period, the Museum was seen increasingly as a local cultural institution, reflected in local authority financial support and increasing number of general public users. Although the University maintained ownership, funding from some traditional channels proved difficult, and the Museum's collections seemed less relevant to mainstream University research [although some University academics continued to play an important role in the Museum's work]. A plan to separate the scientific collections and transfer them to the University's new Science Area on the eastern side of Oxford Road came to nothing. From the appointment of David Owen as Director in 1957 (the title "Keeper" was discontinued for the executive head, and existing assistant keepers became full keepers), the Museum focussed on making its collections attractive to the public; special exhibitions were held - those on Moon rock, Egyptian mummies and Lindow Man - proving especially popular. The Museum also updated its education programme, and issued a range of leaflets to the public about the collections. Several galleries were refurbished, and in 1977 the Museum finally acquired the old Dental Hospital, previously occupied by the Department of Metallurgy.
In recent years, the Museum has once again re-engaged with the University's academic staff, as well as promoted its collections to many other audiences. In early 21st century, the Museum embarked an another major development project, supported in part by Heritage Lottery money, major extension at the rear of the Oxford Road building, provided a new public entrance, exhibitions and storage facilities, opened in 2003.
Records of the Manchester Natural History Society were transferred to Owens College, after the former's dissolution. The archive in its entirety was maintained by the Museum until transferred to the Library in 2012.
The archive of the Manchester Museum includes the surviving records of the Manchester Natural History Society (MNHS), as well as those of the Museum. These form the two major groups by which the archive is organised.
The archive is probably most complete for the MNHS, and for the period 1890-1940. Comparatively few records appear to have survived for the post-war decades.
The MNHS section includes the minutes of the Society's various committees (MMA/1/1-4), and the records of the commission which oversaw the Society's collections from 1868 to 1872 (MMA/1/8). There is also an incomplete set of annual reports (MMA/1/5) and a varied collection of documents concerning the Society's collections (MMA/1/6). All editions of Thomas Ashton's
The Museum's archive (MMA/2) includes the Museum's main administrative record series, but very few collection-related records. The latter are considered integral to the management of the Museum's specimens and objects, and hence are retained by the Museum. The records include annual reports (MMA/2/1), as well as minutes of some ad hoc and junior Museum committees (MMA/2/2). The series of administrative files (MMA/2/4), primarily of the Museum Director, are strongest for the early 20th century, and include invaluable information on many Museum activities, including collection acquisitions, finance, staffing, the Museum building, as well as relations with other museums. There are files which relate specifically to building extensions of 1913 and 1927. Overall, these files, together with the Museum Committee minutes provide very useful information on the working of the Museum, and its relationships with the University and Manchester city council. Correspondingly, the general absence of files for the post-1945 period, means less information is available on Museum administration in this period (Museum Committee minutes and annual reports would provide some information). The keeper's files together with the series of financial receipts dating from the 1890s to the 1930s (MMA/2/6) provide useful information on the processes of acquiring objects and specimens, and indicate relationships with commercial and private suppliers.
MMA/2/5 comprises a set of the Museum's handbooks, which were issued from the 1890s up to the Second World War. These were generally scholarly in nature, and related to specific collections. There are also a few more general guides. The Museum's public work can be traced through cuttings books (MM/2/10) and Visitors books (MMA/2/11). A small collection of records relating to the museum collections, includes T H Huxley's original scheme for organising and displaying the collections (MMA/2/8/1).
MMA/2/12 is a set of records of the Simon Archery Fund trust, a Museum collection which was managed autonomously.
Very little material from the later 20th century is currently present in the archive. There are several internal and consultants reports relating to various capital developments and strategic plans from the 1970s onwards (MMA/2/7).
Collectively, the archive provides important information about the evolution of a provincial museum over a period of almost 200 years, from the private collection of an elite group to a academic and cultural institution which has played an important role in Manchester life. The archive is potentially useful for understanding how collections were acquired and presented to different audiences, as well as being an important source for the development of museological practice in this period.
This is an accruing archive.
The archive has been sub-divided into two sections: MMA/1 Manchester Natural History Society and the Museum Commissioners, and MMA/2 Manchester Museum.
MMA/1 comprises:
MMA/2 comprises:
Previous classifications schemes have been employed by the Museum for these records. Where these former references exist, they have been indicated in the relevant catalogue. Alberti in
Manchester Museum Archive, MMA/2/1/3 (etc.), The University of Manchester Library.
The collection is open to any accredited reader, unless otherwise stated.
The collection includes material which is subject to the Data Protection Act 1998. Under Section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), The University of Manchester Library (UML) holds the right to process personal data for research purposes. The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2000 enables the UML to process sensitive personal data for research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, UML has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately. Users of the archive are expected to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, and will be required to sign a form acknowledging that they will abide by the requirements of the Act in any further processing of the material by themselves.
Open parts of this collection, and the catalogue descriptions, may contain personal data about living individuals. Some items in this collection may be closed to public inspection in line with the requirements of the DPA. Restrictions/closures of specific items will be indicated in the catalogue.
Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.
A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.
Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.
An important source of information about the Museum's work are the minutes of the Museum Committee, part of the University Sessional Committees archive:
The Vice-Chancellor's archives has files on the Museum, which can be informative for relations with the University:
See also the archive of the Manchester Egyptian and Oriental Society (
Records comprise the Society's Council minutes (complete), plus minutes of various subcommittees. Also included are the records of the commission established following the the Society's dissolution, which managed the Society's collections and assets until Owens College assumed control in 1873.
The minutes are in manuscript, signed, but not indexed.
Former reference: GB1
There is a note in latter part of the volume concerning donations to the Society between 1839 and 1851.
One minute book only - it is not known whether there were minutes after 1851.
Former reference: GB2
Includes in latter part of the volume, curator's notes, 20 April 1869-21 Nov 1877, with miscellaneous notes on materials and cases, donations etc. There is also rudimentary index at the end of the volume.
Minute book of a sub-committee appointed by the Society "to enquire into the laws, regulations and management of similar Societies in the United Kingdom, with a view to comparing them with this Institution..." The Committee was appointed in 1836 to investigate how the bodies regulated access to their collections by non-members. The committee sent a circular letter to several natural history societies; and copies of their replies are included in this volume. The Committee's report was approved in 1837.
Former reference: GB3
The Natural History Club was set up in 1861 by the Society. Membership included a small number of non-Society members. It was chaired by R. D. Darbishire and the secretary was Thomas Alcock. The Society held regular meetings to discuss natural history subjects, and it also supervised the Museum's "British Room". The Society as wound up in 1864; some members then joined the Microscopical Section of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, which was interested in similar subjects.
One minute book only. Indexed. Former reference: GB2
Annual reports are present for the following years: 1840-1842, 1853, 1856-8, 1861-1867. The reports for 1861-1867 are bound together and appear to have been part of a larger volume at some stage. Duplicate reports exist for 1864 and 1866.
Former reference: DO2
Miscellaneous collection of documents relating to the Museum's collections. These include catalogues of specific collections such as the British birds, quadrupeds and zoophytes. There are also reports relating more generally to catalogues and classifications schemes. Inventories provide useful information on the location and layout of collections at particular times.
Former reference: GB 3
Stanley (1779-1849) was a member of the Stanley of Alderley family, and later bishop of Norwich.
Printed version arranged into orders, families and genera. Manuscript notes have been added concerning particular specimens.
Described as a "Catalogue of the Natural History Society Museum" (1845), this is an inventory of the Museum's specimen's arranged by room, with a nominal valuation attributed to each object.
Described as a "Valuation of Museum" (cost of specimens) (1849), this is an inventory of the Museum's specimen's arranged by room, with a nominal valuation attributed to objects; arranged by room.
A notebook entitled "Proposed changes in the Distribution of the Collection in the Museum" dated 10 October 1850, notes by curators on proposed changes to the layout of the collections, includes an outline of the orders of birds based on British Museum classification.
One version is a numbered list of bird specimens (in manuscript). The other version is printed, arranged into orders, families and genera, which matches the order of the manuscript volume. There are numerous manuscript amendments to the printed version.
A revised version of MMA/1/6/6 (?) in manuscript.
An obsolete term used for animals which resembled plants (in this case, mostly marine creatures).
List of books in the Library as of January 1862. Heavily annotated.
Former reference: DO1.
Record of loans of specimens and books by the Society. Most of the volume is unused.
2 unbound notebooks and 1 softbound notebook containing notes on classification schemes. Notebooks 1 and 2 relate to birds; orders 1 and 2 in book 1 and 3-5 in book 2, order 7 in book 3.
Two versions: general collections and the British collections, provides information on the catalogues available for different collections
First, second and third editions of Thomas Ashton,
First edition.
Former reference: DO1
2nd edition
Former reference: DO1
3rd edition.
Former reference: DO1
Records of the Museum commissioners who oversaw the Museum and its collections from the period of the dissolution of the Natural History Society in early 1868 to the final legal (and physical) transfer of the Museum collections and other assets to Owens College in 1872. The commissioners were James Prescott Joule, Arthur Latham, Thomas Nevill, Joseph Sidebotham, with Thomas Ashton, J G Greenwood, Alfred Neild and Murray Gladstone representing Owens College. The solicitor and MNHS member R. D. Darbishire was secretary, and he undertook most of the Commission's work. Includes the minutes of the Commissioners, R D Darbishire's letter book, as well as legal and administrative documents relating to the sale and disbursement of Society's assets.
Former reference: GB3 and GB7.
Minutes of the Commissioners, who first met on 9 March 1868. The meetings were initially chaired by James Prescott Joule. The volume includes some correspondence and transcripts of correspondence, and news paper cuttings.
R.D. Darbishire's copy letter book relating to the Commission's work.
Comprises:
Bundle of papers , labelled "Trust Deeds", although content is more varied than
this:
Bundle of incoming letters and other documents sent to the Commissioners. Includes a receipt from Salford Museum for a donation, which included "six pieces of Roman Sculpture which were found on Castlefield, Manchester; a letter from James Heywood supporting the move of the Geological Society's collections to Owens College, 7 Dec 1867; several letters from William Boyd Dawkins concerning his work as curator; a request from Thomas Alcock for the return of a stuffed seal; the use of the Museum for lectures by the Association for Promoting the Education of Women; a letter from James Heywood concerning the sale of the collection of the late Prince of Wied [Prince Alexander 1782-1867], 17 July 1868; an unsuccessful attempt to sell the Society's copy of Audubon's
Copy of an indenture between Edward Holme and others of the Society and John Buxton concerning the construction of a Museum building, dated 19 November 1833.
As approved in 1851.
An unused sheet of paper, with an engraving of the MNHS Museum building.
A typewritten note on
The Museum Committee issued annual reports from 1889. These provided information on collection acquisitions, lectures and outreach work by Museum staff and publications of Museum staff. In the earlier decades of the twentieth century the reports included photographs. The Museum also presented briefer annual reports to the University's Council until 1996.
The series is incomplete. Annual reports are arranged as follows:
Excludes the minutes of the Museum Committee (USC/71). Minutes of junior committees and ad hoc committees (incomplete).
Former reference: GB2
The standing committee was essentially executive sub-committee of the main Museum Committee. Includes minutes of other Museum sub-committees e.g. Lectures, Subscribers.
The Museum established a subscribers' group in 1900 to help provide financial support. Subscribers were required to pay a subscription of at least £1 per annum. They were represented on the Museum Committee and enjoyed certain other privileges. The Subscribers group met annually to receive a report from the Museum.
A committee responsible for the Museum extension, which opened in 1927.
Former reference: GB2
The working party was established in 1997 and reported in 1998. Its brief was to review the constitutional status and finances of the Museum. It was chaired by professor Peter Montague. The file includes the committee's minutes and presented papers, as well as a copy of its final report.
Letter books were used to keep copies of outgoing correspondence of the Museum Keeper.
Former reference: OMR/6
Former reference: A6
Files primarily of the Keeper/Director of the Museum. The files are mostly general correspondence files, which relate to amongst other things, acquisitions and purchases, staffing, building management, contacts with other museums and the Museums Association. There are also specific files relating to building extensions and services, the Museum library, external visits to the Library, endowments and acquisitions.
Correspondence between the Director and contractors, primarily G A Steinthal, concerning the installation and operation of electric power and lighting at the Museum. Electric Lighting was introduced at the Museum in 1898.
Former reference: OMR/10
Correspondence with Museums Association, and other museums, includes details of Egyptian items stolen from the Museum in 1920.
Former reference: OMR/3
Correspondence relating to the Museum's library, including acquisitions, distribution of Museum publications to other bodies. Also present are lists of books acquired by the Museum. A significant portion of the file concerns the Museum's sale of its copy of Audubon's
Former reference: OMR/9
Miscellaneous correspondence relating to both lectures delivered at the Museum, and requests for lectures by Museum staff to external groups. The file includes a few copies of Museum lecture programmes from this period.
Former reference: OMR/9
A file which was sub-divided in to sections for : 1) Publications (orders and exchanges of publication); 2) Cases and Mounting, relating to use of cases and preparation of specimens; 3) Miscellaneous financial orders
Former reference: OMR/3
Keeper's general correspondence; correspondence relates primarily to the administration of the Museum including cases and furniture, subscribers, extensions (1912 and 1927) rates and reinsurance, and security (includes some interesting correspondence concerning security measures against suffragette action in 1914).
Former reference: OMR/4
Keeper's general correspondence; primarily correspondence relating to the acquisition, donation and exchange of specimens with private collectors, other museums etc.
Former reference: OMR/4
Includes correspondence relating to the Jesse Haworth legacy, John Royle bequest and the A. Waters bequest.
Papers relating to the numismatic collection of William Smith Churchill (d.1914), which was given to the Museum in 1912. A dispute arose following Churchill's death about the circumstances and nature of the gift.
Correspondence relating to the 1913 extension, primarily relating the donation of money for the project by Jesse Haworth.
Former reference: GB5
Correspondence and papers relating to the Museum extension, which opened in 1927. Includes extensive correspondence with the architect Michael Waterhouse, as well as with contractors, and members of the Haworth family (the late Jesse Haworth had bequeathed money to Museum for the extension, in part to house items he had given to it).
Former reference: OMR/3
Mainly concerning the borrowing and lending of specimens, including the Theodore Oswald Weigel Herbarium in Leipzig, Germany.
Former reference: OMR/1
File relating to requests to visit the Museum from individuals and groups.
The file has been sub-divided by subject: 1) Grants-in-aid; 2) Publications expenses; 3) Permits (mainly for photography); and 4) Estimates.
Former reference: DO1.
The file has been sub-divided by subject: 1) UGC; 2) Subscribers; 3) Annual Dividend; 4) Capitation grant; 5) Economy Committee; 6) Rates; 7) Estimates; 8) Bursar; 9) Statements of expenditure; 10) Assistant Keeps' salaries; 11) Grading of salaries; 12) Annual Estimated incomes; 13) Income tax.
Former reference: DO1.
File relating to the Museum's educations service. Subjects include services provided for secondary and primary schools, and the juvenile instruction centres. Also includes a memorandum on the use of particular collections for schools audiences.
The keeper's general correspondence file; includes a separate folder relating to R U Sayce's acquisition of objects for the British folklore collection.
Former reference: GB4
A file of general papers; topic include the Boyd Dawkins Turst, the Hewitt bequest, and an application for leave for field work by Theodore Burton-Brown (1902-1988), which includes some criticisms of his work as an archaeologist.
Former reference: DO2.
Letters sent by museums and academics in support of the Museum's work. These were sent in response to a circular issued by the Museum at a time when financial support from the Greater Manchester Council was at risk following the government's decision to abolish the metropolitan authorities.
Former reference: DO3.
The Museum handbooks were a series of publications issued by the Museum. Originally, these were primarily academic catalogues or guides to the collections, as well as reprints of articles about the collections which had appeared in specialist journals (
Volume 1:
Volume 2:
Volume 3: Museum handbooks, comprising
Volume 4: Museum handbooks, comprising
Volume 5 includes
Volume 6 includes
/7 General Guide to the Museum (1893)
/8 General Guide to the Museum (1915)
/9 A Short Guide to the Manchester Museum 1933)
/10 A Catalogue of the Books and Pamphlets in the Library (1895)
/11 Museum Labels
/12 An Index to the Systema Naturae of Linnaeus
/13 General Statement of the Work of the Museum (1911)
/14 Some collections of the Manchester Museum n.d. (prob. post-1945)
/15 Museum guide, 1970.
Expenditure account, arranged by category - specimens, buildings, sundries etc. Indexed.
Former reference: OMR/2.
Income/expenditure account book
Income/expenditure account book
Former reference: OMR/6
The Museum appears to have keep receipts received separately up until the 1930s. Normally, this type of material would not be retained, but it has been decided to retain these records, because they provide interesting information on the supply of objects and exhibits. Note: the receipts deal only with financial transactions, and do not include details of major donations and purchases by the Museum. The receipts are arranged by financial year. No receipts for 1915/6 and 1916/7.
Former reference: OMR/8
Former reference: A2
Former reference: A2
Former reference: OMR2
Former reference: OMR2
Former reference: OMR2
Former reference: OMR2
Former reference: OMR/8
Former reference: A1
Former reference: A1
Former reference: A1
Former reference: A1
Former reference: OMR1
Former reference: OMR1
Former reference: OMR1
Former reference: OMR1
Former reference: OMR1
Former reference: GB8, SR1 and DO3
Report on Feasibility and Allocation of Costs.
A development pan for the Museum, drawn up in light of the Drew report (
Authored by Charles Pettitt, the Keeper of Invertebrates.
Reports and Plans compiled for the Capital Development project 1996-1999. Also present is a copy of the application made to the Heritage Lottery Fund. including a business plan; project management plan; design proposals and capital development strategy;collecting policy draft extract of the submission to HLF; documentation plan; a paper copy of the Museum's website as at August-September 1995
In 1868, the Museum commissioners consulted the naturalist T H Huxley about the design and organisation of a new Museum. Huxley submitted a memorandum, dated 25 May 1868, and two pencil and ink sketches of his designs. The substance of his work was later published by the Museum as T H Huxley
Volume, described as "Cash book", which appears to be a record of Museum materials borrowed and loaned by the Museum (?); it is also possible that materials have been purchased, although there is no data on financial transactions. Most of the items appear to be botanical specimens.
Content of the volume has some similarities to MMA/2/8/2, but is more obviously a record of material loaned, exchanged or donated to other organisations and individuals (including British Museum, Manchester High School for Girls, Worthington Girls School, Salford Museum), Chadwick Museum, Bolton, Yorkshire College, Leeds.
Former reference: GB3
Inventory of the prehistoric collection of George Finlay.
Memorandum by William Boyd Dawkins, dated 31 May 1927, outlining the history of the arrangement of collections at the Museum, and making recommendations. Includes extensive marginal comments presumably by Carpenter, the Keeper. The context of the memorandum was the rearrangement of space in consequence of the 1927 extension.
List of reserve collection of the Museum, arranged by department. Former reference: GB 5
A typed copy of notes on the history of Manchester Museum to 1921 compiled by Thomas Coward.
Former reference: DO2.
David Owen's card index notes on the history of the Manchester Museum and Manchester Natural History Society, 1835-1860s.
Written by David Hastings, a detailed overview of the Society's organization and activities.
Written by George Fildes, this compilation of notes has used the Museum's archives and it has valuable descriptions of some Museum staff, donors and the collections.
Two separate, hard-written notes on the Natural History Society, based on the Society's records. Author unknown.
Former reference: DO2.
"The Owens College Manchester Museum Visitors Book" - December 3rd 1889 - August 24th 1891. List of names and addresses.
Former reference: OMR/6
Signatories include Prince Kropotkin, Flinders Petrie, Ernest Shackleton and Marie Stopes.
Former reference: A5
Visitors' book, most comments refer to the Lindow Man exhibition.
Former reference: A7.
Three volumes of cuttings books, 1889-1935, late 1950s to the mid 1970s.
Former reference: A6 and A7
Miscellaneous cuttings, which primarily relate to activities and events at the Museum, including:
Access to certain items in this series is restricted.
The Simon Archery Collection was given to the Museum by Ingo Simon in 1946. His widow later established a Foundation to help develop the archery collection. The records consist primarily minutes and papers of the meeting of the Simon Archery Foundation trustees.
A Manchester Field Naturalists Society membership card of Thomas Coward. The card is signed by Leo Grindon, the honorary secretary of the Society.
Former reference: DO2.
The volume contains various leaflets, invitations, programmes issued in connection with Museum events, primarily building openings. It includes documents from University events, in which the Museum was involved as a venue. It includes a programme for the 1888 opening, a programme of the Manchester Meeting of the Museums Association, 1892; opening the Medical School, extension, 1894/5, the installation of electric lighting at the Museum, 1898; programmes for Museum Subscribers meetings; 1912 extension programme: and the 1927 extension opening programme. The volume appears to have been compiled for the administration of these events.
"Regulations for the government and management of the Manchester Museum
Invitation to an event at the Museum, 8 February 1911, addressed to Charles Bailey.
Programme for a meeting of Museum subscribers 28 September 1906
Former reference: GB5
Includes a programme, a copy of the "General Statement of Work", 1911, a plan of the Museum; order of service for the funeral of Jesse Haworth (1920)
Former reference: GB5
It is not known why or when this document was compiled.
A list of persons invited to the Museum extension, 1927.
Former reference: GB5
Humorous drawings of mock coats of arms for Owens College institutions, possibly produced for a student publication or event. It is not known why these items were in the Museum's archives.
Former reference: GB5