The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) had a complex institutional history. It began life in 1824 as the Manchester Mechanics' Institution with the aim of providing artisans and mechanics with the means "to become acquainted with such branches of science as are of practical application in the exercise of that trade." In 1883 the Institution was refounded as the Manchester Technical School and the Manchester Mechanics' Institution. In 1891-2, it was briefly under the control of the Whitworth Institute, but in 1892, it was taken over by Manchester City Council, which was keen to play an active role in developing technical and vocational education within the city. Its name was changed to the Manchester Municipal Technical School, and it reopened in an elaborate new building at Sackville Street in 1902. In 1918, it was once gain renamed, this time as the Manchester Municipal College of Technology.
From 1905 the College provided a home for the University of Manchester's Faculty of Technology (an arrangement which lasted until 1994). Students were divided between those studying for university degrees, and those undertaking vocational courses, often in evening classes, and until the 1950s the latter group comprised the great majority of the College's students. In 1956 municipal control came to an end with the creation of the Manchester College of Science and Technology, a chartered institution which received University Grants Committee funding and focused almost exclusively on university-level education. In 1966, the MCST became the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). By the 1990s most links to the University of Manchester had been relinquished, and UMIST was to all intents and purposes an independent university. In 2004, UMIST amalgamated with the Victoria University of Manchester to form a new university called The University of Manchester.
This division within the College between university and vocational students was reflected in their associational life, with sharp demarcations between the two groups. The Students Union was established for university students within the Faculty of Technology in 1910. It was commonly referred to as the "Tech" Union, to distinguish it from the University of Manchester Students Union, a body from which it was wholly independent. Technology students were eligible for associate membership of the University Union, but in general a sharp rivalry existed between the two bodies, which was sometimes manifested in rowdy conflicts during Rag week. Non-university students at the College were eligible for associate membership of the Tech Union, but mostly it was university students who predominated.
The Union was originally governed by a Committee, later a Council, comprised of a president, secretary, treasurer and student representatives from each department. The Union Council was originally responsible for three sections: Technical, General and Athletic, each of which was run by an executive committee. Each section was made up of particular student societies: the Technical Section comprised departmental societies such as Engineering, Chemistry and Textile Chemistry; the General was made up of non-academic societies such as Photography, Student Christian, Chess and Music; and the Athletic Section consisted of the College's sports clubs. This arrangement appears to have persisted until the 1940s. The Union Council was responsible to its membership through the General Meetings. Over the years, this governing structure became more complex, with Executive and Finance Committees being established, which reported to the Council.
The Union was originally located in the main UMIST building, but in the 1960s moved to new premises in the Barnes Wallis building. The Union included a bar, shops, meeting rooms and sports and social facilities. Over the years, UMIST Union took an active part in Student Rag, and published newspapers and magazines such as
The archive was maintained at the UMIST Students Union until its transfer to the University Archives.
Transferred to the University Archives on 17 January 2005 and 28 February 2008.
Archive of the UMIST Students Union, mainly comprising minutes of governing committees, including Council, Executive Committee, Finance Committee and General meetings from foundation in 1910 to the 2004 merger. There are also membership registers, and a small number of Union publications. Some of the early minutes of the Union are missing, including all the records of the General Section Executive Committee. The archive documents the major activities and decisions of the Union, and provides invaluable background on the social history of the student body.
The collection has not been subject to appraisal.
Further accruals of post-1995 committee minutes expected; it is also possible that additional Union publications may be acquired.
The archive is arranged into the following series
Archive of the UMIST Students Union, TSU/1/1 (etc.), University of Manchester Library.
The collection is open to any accredited reader unless otherwise stated..
The collection includes material which may be subject to the Data Protection Act 2018. Under the Act 2018 (DPA), The University of Manchester Library (UML) holds the right to process personal data for archiving and 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 2018, 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.
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.
There will be information on the Union's relations with UMIST administration in the UMIST
Governing Bodies archive (
In the 1917 -18 session the Union Committee reformed into the Union Council
The minute books for the years 1951 -1955 are missing. Volumes 6-27, 1956-1976 includes minutes from the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Executive and Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Includes minutes of the Executive Committee and the Finance Committee.
Minutes of the Union's general meetings.
The minute books for volumes 1-11 covering the years 1976-1986 also include Finance Committee minutes.
The Minute books for Finance Committee Minutes for 1976-1986 are included in volumes 1-11 of the Executive Committee Minutes (TSU/3/1-TSU/3/11).
The Committee was responsible for social events within the Students Union. The final minutes note that a further meeting had been organised but the minutes for this and any possible other meetings have not been located.
The minutes comprise the weekly meetings of the staff from the Students Advice Centre whose role was to offer advice to students. An index is included in the minute book.
Manutech Services Limited (formerly Mountcorn Limited) was a company that was wholly owned by UMIST Union and was incorporated in 1983. The Company was responsible for the Union's security services and organised various entertainments such as socials and 'discos'. It ran a Games Room within the Union and operated a travel bureau.
Each approved student society made up of ten or more members elected one of its members as a representative to an Executive Committee, of which there were three - Technical, General and Athletic. These in turn were represented on the Union Council. The Committees disbursed funds to member clubs and societies in the form of capitation grants . The representatives chosen from Technical (departmental) Societies made up the Technical Executive Committee.
Enclosure: a financial statement for a 'Christmas SoireƩ' held in 1911; Individuals are identified [in envelope].
The Finance Committee allocated funds for the Union and made grants of money to each of the three Executive Committees. This Committee had no direct relation to the later Finance Committee of the Union (TSU/4).
Enclosure: A copy of the 'Constitution of the Proposed Union for the Municipal Schools of Technology and Arts.' A postcard photograph of a 'Field Cooker and Water Cart' [placed in envelopes].
This series comprises the Faculty of Technology Union Members Registers (TSU/10/1) and the Faculty of Technology Associate Members Registers (TSU/10/2) dating from 1930 through to 1950. The Associate Members Registers are for students of the Manchester Municipal College of Technology, who were not enrolled in the University of Manchester Faculty of Technology.
The Registers were produced annually.
UMIST union handbooks for: 1968/9, 1978/9 [as "Urban survival Kit"] 1979/80, 1983/4, 1984/5, 1990/1 (entitled "TGM", 2 copies), 1991/2, 1992/3 (as "Trip", 2 copies), 1993/4, 1994/5 (in mini ringbinder), 1996/7 (2 copies).
1986 edition only.
Guides for LGB students at Manchester.
Includes: programme for a Union soireƩ, 1913; invitations and menu cards for Union dinners, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1966, 1967; a "passport" for the 1962 dinners; and programmes for the Union ball, 1953, 1958 and 1967.