Special Collections and Archives

Painting of a busy evening street scene in the 1940s outside the Arcadia cinema.

The Special Collections and Archives are housed in the Lancaster University Library. They are available to anyone by appointment, and some are available digitally through Lancaster Digital Collections.  Special Collections and Archives aim to support the needs of all staff, students and external users in the research, teaching, learning and engagement with the materials within our rare book and archive collections in the most appropriate way.

Our Vision describes our approach to developing and managing the unique collections held by the Library at Lancaster University.

The Archives Research Centre showing books and other items on display.
Selection of materials from our collections on display

Explore our Collections

Our collections are available to anyone by appointment and there is no need to have a research topic in mind to view our holdings. We can provide virtual access to our collection and some are available digitally through Lancaster Digital Collections.  Special Collections and Archives aim to support the needs of all staff, students and external users in the research, teaching, learning and engagement with the materials within our rare book and archive collections in the most appropriate way.

You can find information about our collection on OneSearch or follow the options below to find out more about the distinct collections we hold:

Browse our collections on OneSearch

  • Special Collections

    We hold over 30 unique collections including over 15,000 rare books and 1000s of original documents.

  • University Archives

    The University archives contain the historical records of Lancaster University dating from its conception in 1961.

  • Lancaster Digital Collections

    Lancaster Digital Collection shares and preserves unique and distinct visual and multimedia collections created by the University and its partners.

Collection Highlights

A Selection of items from our collections.

Old Atlas page showing South America

Bowles Atlas

This atlas was published by Bowles and Carver in the 1790s. It consists of 39 maps from the period with the place names as they would have been known at the time. This particular map is of South America. It is part of our general Rare Book collection of items dating from pre-1810.

Montage of period programmes from the Hylton Collection.

Jack Hylton Archive

This collection traces the career of Jack Hylton, a band leader and impresario who was active from the 1920s until his death in 1965. He rose to prominence in the British dance band era was known as the "British King of Jazz". He later moved into general entertainment and created productions for theatre, musicals, along with early television. This image shows a collection of programmes from the collection.

Find out more about Jack Hylton Collection.
Swansea 1919 Bye Election poster showing candidate Councillor David Williams.

Socialist Pamphlets Collection

This Socialist Pamphlet collection contains publications related to the Labour Party and the Socialist Movement both in the UK and abroad between 1818-1997. This is a canvassing flyer for Counsellor David Williams JP asking for votes for the Swansea East Division Bye Election for the Labour Party on 10th July 1919.

Find out more about the Socialist Pamphlets Collection.
Black and White period photograph of the Pyramid Theatre from the Cinema Memory Archive.

Cinema Memory and the Digital Archive (CMDA)

This collection was a result of The Cinema Memory and the Digital Archive (CMDA) project which examined the memories of people who went to the cinema in the 1930s. As well as oral history recordings, the collection also contains artefacts donated during the project, including the photograph of the Pyramid Cinema, Greater Manchester, by Douglas Randell.

Find out more about the Cinema Memory and the Digital Archive (CMDA)
Pamphlets such as Giles Daily Express cartoons depicted.

Patten World War II Pamphlet Collection

The Patten collection predominantly contains pamphlets from the Second World war, mainly those issues by various government departments but also other informative pamphlets. It also includes sheet music of the time and various armed forces newspapers and magazines.

Find out more about the Pattern Collection.

Accessing Our Collections

Our collections are open for anyone to access by appointment in the Library's Archives Research Centre (ARC). We can accommodate both in person and digital visits. We also offer other services to support the research and teaching activities of the University.

For enquiries and other services please contact us by email or call the main Library on 01524 592516. Alternatively, you can write to: Special Collections and Archives, Lancaster University Library, Bailrigg, Lancaster, Lancashire. LA1 4YH.

Archives Research Centre showing tables with books and documentation on display.
Archives Research Centre

Further information on how to access our collections accordion

Archive Research Centre (ARC)

The ARC is a bespoke research space for staff, students and visitors to access our collections. The space is single contact point for researchers who want to access both the University’s institutional collection alongside the library and archive collections assembled by Lancaster since 1963. The space was outfitted with Research Cultures Funding from Research England in 2023.

Archive reading room with tables and chairs

Archive Research Centre (ARC)

The Archive Research Centre (ARC) is based in the former bindery of the University Library. The space can be accessed from the ground floor of the Library, or via the South Spine of the Lancaster campus. The ARC was officially opened in November 2023.

Archives Research Centre including books and other items on display.

Group Space

Materials from our Special Collection on display in our group space. This space can be used to cater for various groups activities. The tables and chairs are movable and can be rearranged depending on individual groups requirements.

Materials from the University Archives, including photographs and other papers, on a table.

Ruskin Tables

Materials from the University Archives on display on the Ruskin Tables, which were the inspiration for the overall design of the ARC. The four tables were originally part of a suite of tables designed specifically for the The Ruskin library when it opened in 1998. Their design was a result of a collaboration between Richard MacCormac of MacCormac, Jamieson, and Prichard of London and Cumbria based furniture designer Jeremy Hall. The tables were transferred to the ARC in July 2023.

Feature wall in the Archives Research Centre with posters and booklets.

Feature wall

The Feature Wall was designed to complement the Ruskin Tables. It features shelves which can be used to display books and a picture rail which can be used to exhibit framed objects.

Equipment including document camera., light and laptop.

Virtual Reading Room

The ARC features new equipment to provide virtual access to our collection to researchers anywhere in the world. The set up also enables us to narrow the gap between digital and physical access.