About ACCLAIM

ACCLAIM aims to bring together archives, museums and heritage sites which hold collections relating to co-operatives and labour history with a view to identify collaborative research projects and/or raising public awareness of those same archives and institutions.

The group currently consists of the Labour History Archive & Study Centre at the People’s History Museum, The Working Class Movement Library, The Co-op Archive at the Co-operative Heritage Trust and the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. 

These repositories have been identified as places where researchers visit to look at material relating to their interest when visiting the area as there are collections across these sites that are useful for their research and which we can guide people towards.

For practical reasons, whilst the group develop the aims an objectives fully, it is limited to those central core of institutions based in the Greater Manchester area. Once further established, more institutions will be able to join to help develop a deeper collaborative approach to academic research across organisations.

Sources for Co-operative History in the UK

The Society for the Study of Labour History has created a guide to sources for co-operative history in the UK. Compiled by the Society’s Archives and Resources Committee, the guide includes information on the major archives and their holdings on this topic. 

1926 General Strike Centenary Open Day

The unique archive open day to mark the centenary of the 1926 General Strike was on Saturday 9 May at the People’s History Museum.

The event will delved into the strike’s continuing significance and legacy. Academics, activists, trade unionists, and heritage professionals explored the 1926 General Strike through a range of papers and panels, and highlighted rare archival material.

The event was a result of a collaboration between the John Rylands Library, the National Co-operative Archive, the People’s History Museum, and the Working Class Movement Library, with support by the Society for the Study of Labour History.

A report can be found on the SSLH website