Wallpaper pattern decorated with leaves and flowers in blues, greens and yellows.

Collections

Explore the collections and archives held in our museum

Overview

We hold more than 100 collections and archives in the Special Collections Museum. A small number are currently listed on this website to give you a flavour of what we hold. We’ll be adding more collections and archives regularly, so keep checking back to see what’s new. 

Explore our collections and archives

  • Marbled paper in blue, grey and yellow with rippled effect

    Collections

    Find out more about the collections held in our museum

    Find out more
  • Students at Manchester School of Art in a life drawing class in about 1900

    Archives

    Find out more about the archives held in our museum

    Find out more

Quote

An amazing resource for our students, staff, project partners and anyone with a passion for art, design, history, technology and culture. It’s something that most universities simply don’t have.
Professor Martyn Evans, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Reading Room and Group visits