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The University Library began to receive archives in the 1950s and material within the Archives now falls into three main categories; local archive collections, the South Wales Coalfield Collection and the records of the University itself. Material in the South Wales Coalfield Collection is split between the Archives on the main campus and the South Wales Miners' Library on the Hendrefoelan campus about 2 miles away.

The collecting policy of the Archives is to acquire documents that relate to existing material in the Local Archive and South Wales Coalfield Collections or to Swansea University, prominent figures associated with it or material relevant to research in the University.

The holdings at Swansea University are particularly strong in records relating to the South Wales Coalfield and the industries of the Swansea area. The South Wales Coalfield Collection contains a wide variety of material relating to the employees of the mining industry and the cultural, political and educational organisations they created. Much of the collection relates to the trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers (South Wales Area) and its branches or lodges but records are also held of the Miners' institutes that were a prominent feature of the coalfield. A substantial oral history collection contains interviews with people from all parts of coalfield society, from miners talking about the conditions that led to the formation of the union to decision-makers in the energy sector. A large collection of photographs is also held along with a number of trade union banners. The Collection is suppoted by an extensive library of material on the history of the South Wales Coalfield. This is held at the South Wales Miners' Library.

The Archives also holds the records of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, South Wales Division along with the business records of many of the metallurgical and engineering industries that flourished in Swansea and the surrounding area. Local collections include family and estate papers and records of religious denominations.

Special feature: Miners' Strike 1984-1985

Web: www.swan.ac.uk/lis/historicalcollections

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