Archive of the Manchester Philological Club

The archive comprises of three volumes of minutes spanning the period 1923-1972, including meetings and summaries of talks, financial accounts, and lists of members and guest speakers.

The Philological Club appears to have been established in 1923 by academics in University of Manchester language departments (including English) 'to promote original study, mutual assistance and good scholarship among teachers of language and literature and others interested in the same aspects of knowledge'. Membership was restricted to University staff, most of whom were teachers of languages or literature. Founder members included: W M Calder, professor of Greek (1913-1930); R S Conway, professor of Latin (1903-1929); W J Sedgefield, professor of English Language (1913-1931) and M V Trofimov, professor of Russian (1919-1945). Meetings were held approximately monthly in the Smoking Room or Reading Room of the Students Union. Besides discussing Club business, the principal objective was to provide a forum for academics to present their research to their fellow members of staff. For example, in January 1924, Leon Roth gave a talk about letters he had been given, from Descartes to Constantyn Huygens for the purpose of editing (an edition of the letters was published in 1926). The Club also regularly invited guest speakers from other universities to speak on their current research, and the minute books include lists of these guest speakers. Although the collection includes minutes only up to 1973, the Club continued to be active until its dissolution circa 2002, when its records were transferred to the University Archives. (Sources: the collection and the accession file).

Arranged chronologically.

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

Donated by Professor Peter Weatherill, last president of the Club in September 2002.

Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.

A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.

Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Keeper of Manuscripts and Archives, John Rylands University Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.

Further accruals are not expected.