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National Union of Mineworkers archives catalogued

Fri, 01 May 2026 09:39:00 GMT

A century and a half of history encased in more than 1,500 archive boxes. After three years, conservation and cataloguing of the archives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has been completed.

New Temporary Exhibition: Weimar Cinema 1919-1933

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:33:00 GMT

For a limited time only, explore the programmes from the University of Warwick's Illustrierter Film-Kurier collection from 1919 to 1933. On display from 2nd March - 5th April 2026

Yorkshire miners' union archives catalogued

Thu, 01 May 2025 14:08:10 GMT

More than 500 boxes of archives relating to the Yorkshire Miners' Association and National Union of Mineworkers Yorkshire Area have been catalogued. The archives cover more than 150 years of mining history, from the mid-19th century to the early 21st.

Mining union archives to be conserved!

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:31:00 GMT

The MRC are delighted to announce that we have received grant funding for essential conservation work to stabilise the recently discovered archives of the National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (NACODS) from the National Archives and the Society for the Study of Labour History.

Early miners' society archives catalogued

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:52:00 GMT

The National Union of Mineworkers archives includes sources relating to both the NUM and to earlier district or area organisations. The first five collections have now been catalogued and can be seen at the Modern Records Centre.

Records of McDougall Trust, including Proportional Representation Society and the Electoral Reform Society

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 11:26:00 GMT

We are delighted to announce the transfer to us of the historical records of the McDougall Trust and the Electoral Reform Society (previously the Proportional Representation Society).

Mining the Past: The archives of the National Union of Mineworkers

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:30:00 GMT

'Mining the Past' is a three year project to conserve, catalogue and provide access to the archives of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

The coal industry fuelled Britain's industrial revolution and at its 20th century peak directly employed more than a million people in the UK. The archives of the National Union of Mineworkers and its predecessors date back to the mid 19th century and are key sources for Britain's industrial, social and labour history.

Following preliminary work on the archive by the NUM and the University of Nottingham, the Modern Records Centre was chosen as the long-term home for the NUM archive in 2019, and grants to fund conservation, cataloguing and outreach work were awarded by the Wellcome Institute, Pilgrim Trust and National Manuscripts Conservation Trust in the same year.

In 2022 approximately 900 'bankers' or records management boxes were moved from NUM headquarters and treatment of the collection was begun by a specialist archives conservation company (making sure that the material was dry and free from contaminants). In January 2023 the first batch of conserved archives were received at the Modern Records Centre and in February 2023 we started the long job of cataloguing the huge collection. Over the next three years we look forward to exploring the collection in more detail and collaborating with the NUM to enable wider access to the sources.

New guide to LGBTQUA+ sources

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 12:28:10 GMT

A new online guide highlights sources about LGBTQUA+ history in the MRC's archive collections, including material relating to the campaign for the legalisation of male homosexuality, the Gay Liberation movement and LGBTQUA+ experiences at the University of Warwick.

The Pepys of Plaistow

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 13:27:00 GMT

Now available in the Speaking Archives! part of our website: selected readings from the diaries of young Londoner Tom Flinn, cyclist, wireless fan, cultural critic and more besides, 1932-1935.

New audio insights

Mon, 04 May 2020 14:08:00 GMT

Two new features about our digitised sound recordings have recently been added to our website:

	A guide to the regional and other accents represented in many interviews, mainly from the 1980s. In England the interviewees' birthplaces range from Devon to Durham, with particular concentrations in the west Midlands, Merseyside and the London docklands. Whilst these are mainly records of working-class speech, professional people such as senior civil servants and social workers also feature.
	An introduction to the distinctive soundtracks of the management training filmstrips published by the Industrial Society in the 1960s. These mini-dramas give a sometimes amusing picture of attitudes to workplace issues at the time. Prepare to encounter both appalling and exemplary behaviour.