The collectionsare central to the artistic culture and teaching of the faculty and have been since its foundation as the Manchester School of Art in 1853.
The collectionsinclude:
Artists’ Books: a great range of creative experimentations with the book form
20th century international poster collections
The Manchester School of Art Collection including fine and decorative art and the work of past and present students and staff
The Schmoller Collection of Decorated Papers
Children’s Book Collection: featuring 19th and 20th century children’s book illustration
Book collections exploring aspects of the book as an artifact
Archive collections including artists’ working drawings and correspondence
Manchester Society of Architects Library
Victorian ephemera featuring 19th century albums and scrapbooks