There were many unions covering printing and paper workers, and the archives of a large number of these have been deposited in the Modern Records Centre.

The following archives contain some records of use to family historians. The dates listed indicate the period for which membership records exist.

Unions operating exclusively in London

London was the centre of the printing trade and a number of unions operated exclusively in London.

• Amalgamated Society of Printers' Warehousemen (1894-1898)
• Association of Correctors of the Press (1881-1960)
• London Society of Compositors (1826-1955)
• London Society of Lithographic Music Printers (1930)
• London Society of Lithographic Printers (1892-1900)
• London Typographical Society (1955-1959), formed in 1955 by the amalgamation of the London Society of Compositors and the Printing Machine Managers' Trade Society
• National Society of Electrotypers and Stereotypers: London Branch (1915-1958), previously the National Society of Electrotypers and Stereotypers and the National Society of Electrotypers, Stereotypers and Assistants
• National Union of Bookbinders and Machine Rulers: London Branch (Women's Section) (1917-1919)
• Printing Machine Managers' Trade Society (1882-1955)
• Stereotypers' Assistants' Society, after amalgamation with Natsopa in 1914

Unions operating nationally

Note that most of these unions operated in London as well.

• Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers (1880-1968)
• Amalgamated Society of Paper Makers (1894-1898, 1914-1918)
• Bookbinders and Machine Rulers' Consolidated Union (1849-1890, 1893-1896, 1899-1908), previously the Bookbinders' Consolidated Union
• Central Association of Lithographic and Copperplate Printers' Societies of Great Britain and Ireland (1873, 1878), whose members amalgamated in 1880 to form the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers
• National Amalgamated Society of Printers' Warehousemen and Cutters (1900-1902), formed in 1900 by the amalgamation of the Amalgamated Society of Printers' Warehousemen and the Printers' and Stationers' Warehousemen, Cutters and Assistants' Union
• National Graphical Association (NGA) (1963-1982), formed in 1963 by the amalgamation of the Typographical Association and the London Typographical Society
• National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (Natsopa) (1901-1966), previously the Operative Printers' Assistants' Society and the National Society of Operative Printers' Assistants
• National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel (Natsopa) (1972-1982), formed in 1972 after Natsopa broke away from the SOGAT amalgamation
• National Union of Press Telegraphists (1924-1939, 1965)
• National Union of Printing and Paper Workers (1914-1921), previously the National Union of Paper Workers, formed in 1914 by the amalgamation of the National Amalgamated Society of Printers' Warehousemen and Cutters and the National Union of Paper Mill Workers
• National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers (1921-1959), previously the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding, Machine Ruling and Paper Workers, formed in 1921 by the amalgamation of the National Union of Printing and Paper Workers and the National Union of Bookbinders and Machine Rulers
• Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT) (1972-1983), the successor to the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers
• Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT): Division 1 (1966-1972), the Natsopa part of the amalgamation that formed SOGAT in 1966
• Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT): Division A (1966-1972), the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers part of the amalgamation that formed SOGAT in 1966
• Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers (SLADE) (1885-1980), previously the National Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Writers, Copperplate and Wood Engravers, the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Writers, Copperplate and Wood Engravers, the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Engravers and the Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers
• The Typographical AssociationLink opens in a new window

The printed alphabetical register of members, 1911,Link opens in a new window has been digitised.

• Vellum (Account Book) Binders' Trade Society (1891-1893)

Unions operating in limited areas (other than London)

• Bradford Lithographic and Copperplate Printers' Trade Society (1879)
• Monotype Casters and Typefounders' Society: Edinburgh Chapel (1935-1943), previously the Amalgamated Typefounders' Trade Society
• Scottish Typographical Association (STA) (1881, 1888-1907, 1972, 1974-1975), later briefly the Scottish Graphical Association