Special Collections
A wonderful resource of images, stories and ideas for students, staff and members of the public.
Discover over 150 collections of rare books and archives: manuscripts, letters, photographs, artworks, newspapers, maps, pamphlets, objects, digital files, and even J.B. Priestley's pipes.
Reopening of Special Collections
Special Collections has now reopened and able to take limited bookings. Our new Archivist, Julie Parry, is looking forward to helping researchers with their enquiries. Please use the Special Collections email to contact Julie to make an appointment.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused by staffing changes and reduced hours.
Bones, Bodies and Disease
One-day conference and Project launch
Norcroft Centre, University of Bradford
26 Jan 2019
All welcome. Free, but please register.
We are launching the Putting Flesh on the Bones Project at this one-day conference. An opportunity to celebrate the work of Dr Calvin Wells and to discover our current research in palaeopathology.
To register or find out more see our eventbrite page.
Putting Flesh on the Bones Project
Wellcome-funded project to catalogue and digitise the archive of Dr Calvin Wells, who pioneered the study of ancient disease and injury through bones.
J. B. Priestley
Discover the archive of Bradford's great writer, creator of An Inspector Calls and hundreds of other plays, books, and articles.
Peace, Politics and Social Change
Archives, pamphlets, ephemera and books document the people, campaigns and ideas of peaceful protest in the 20th century.
Jacquetta Hawkes
Archaeologist and author, best known for A Land which fused geology and poetry.
History of the University of Bradford
Our collections tell the story of the University from its origins in the Bradford Technical College. The focus has always been on making knowledge work.
Bradford and the Yorkshire Dales
From writers to entrepeneurs, the wool trade to lead mining, our collections tell the stories of local people, culture and industry.
Archaeology
Exploring the past through objects, from bones which reveal disease to maps of Yorkshire's past.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the archive, and I'm extremely grateful for the friendly welcome and great help
Plan a visit
Come and see the collections for yourself! We're open to everyone, but as a small service we do need you to make an appointment.
Get copies
Want to photograph collections? Need us to make copies for you? Here's what you need to know.
Services for staff and students
Our collections are open to all, but we offer some extra help to our students and colleagues.
Archive Accreditation
As an Accredited Archive, we aim to offer the highest standards of collections care and customer service.