Special Collections
MMU Special Collections, located on the 3rd floor of the Sir Kenneth Green Library, All Saints, offers students, staff and the public an opportunity to study its unique collections and visit the current exhibitions in the Special Collections Gallery.
The Special Collections are central to the artistic culture and teaching of the faculty and have been since its foundation as the Manchester School of Art in 1853.
The Collections include:
- Artists' Books: a great range of creative experimentations with the book form
- 20th century international poster collections
- The Manchester School of Art Collection including fine and decorative art and the work of past and present students and staff
- The Schmoller Collection of Decorated Papers
- Children's Book Collection: featuring 19th and 20th century children's book illustration
- Book collections exploring aspects of the book as an artifact
- Archive collections including artists' working drawings and correspondence
- Manchester Society of Architects Library
- Victorian ephemera featuring 19th century albums and scrapbooks
Exhibitions
The Special Collections Gallery has a programme of exhibitions relating to the collections and also showcases the art and design practice and research of staff and students. Exhibition catalogues and collection publications are available to purchase. To hear about future events and exhibitions join our mailing list by visiting the Special Collections website.
Opening Times
| Monday - Friday | 10am - 4pm |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 10am - 7pm (term time only) |
| Saturday | 12 noon - 4pm (term time only) |
Gallery Hire
The creative atmosphere of the gallery provides an ideal location for events and can be hired with the optional use of the Lecture Theatre. To hire the gallery space email lib-spec-coll@mmu.ac.uk or phone 0161 247 6107
More Information
For more information about our location, opening times, collections, exhibitions and events and to search the online image and collections database visit the Special Collections website www.specialcollections.mmu.ac.uk
Current Exhibitions
The Best Tools, the Best Methods, the Best Aims... The Society of Wood Engravers 1920 - 2012
16 Jan - 23 Mar 2012
"It is admittedly a time of experiment. We have to rediscover the best way of doing things - the best tools, the best methods, the best aims." Eric Gill, 1927
This exhibition celebrates the very generous donation by the Society of Wood Engravers (SWE) of their archive to the Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections. The archive includes material from the Society's foundation in 1920 and traces its development up to the present day.
Other Collections at MMU
The North West Film Archive is the professionally recognised public home for the moving image heritage of the North West of England.
The national Design Council Slide Collection is housed in the Visual Resources Centre.
The Downing Collection contains an important group of manufacturers' pattern books from the early nineteenth century to recent times.