Engravers' Trade Unions Archive

Archives of the Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers, Amalgamated Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers, and the United Society of Engravers. The collection also includes records of the Scottish United Engravers' Society and Scottish Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers, which merged with the English union in 1909. The collection contains the minute books of these unions, as well as those of two local branches, Accrington and Dinting. The archive includes members' contribution books , an apprentice register (1889-1972), a census of members (1924) and various benefit records. There are also copies of various industrial agreements, rule books (1893-1968) and reports (1925-1972). In addition, there is a small body of photographs including a photo album of machinery manufactured by Lockett Crossland Ltd.

The United Society of Engravers of Great Britain and Ireland traced its origins to a predecessor organisation, the Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers, which was founded in Manchester in 1889. This society had members in both the cotton and printing industries. The union was registered in 1889 and had its headquarters at the Crosby Hotel, Withy Grove, Manchester. By 1898 it was claiming 1064 members. In 1909 the union united with the Scottish Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers to form the Amalgamated Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers.

In 1920 the Amalgamated Union was renamed the United Society of Engravers of Great Britain and Ireland. The union retained strong links to the Manchester area, but the decline of the cotton industry had a major effect on the union's fortunes, and by 1972 it had fewer than 500 members. In 1973 USE transferred its engagements to the Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers (SLADE), where its members joined the Wallpaper Textile Section of that union. This union in turn merged with the National Graphical Association in 1982 to form NGA’82.

Arranged by series as follows:

• ETU/1 - Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers Minutes
• ETU/2 - Amalgamated Union of Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers Minutes
• ETU/3 - United Society of Engravers Minutes
• ETU/4 - Scottish engravers' unions minutes
• ETU/5 - English and Scottish Engravers to Calico Printers and Paper Stainers Trade Unions Federation Minutes
• ETU/6 - Branch Records
• ETU/7 - Contribution and Membership Records
• ETU/8 - Reports
• ETU/9 - Rule Books
• ETU/10 - Agreements
• ETU/11 - Financial records
• ETU/12 - Photographs
• ETU/13 - Miscellaneous

Open to any accredited reader.

The archive may contain personal data about living individuals, and readers are expected to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 in their use of the material. Under Section 33 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) holds the right to process such personal data for research purposes. The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) Order 2000 enables the JRUL to process sensitive personal data for research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, the JRUL has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately.

Deposited by the United Society of Engravers in 1973.

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 Head of Special Collections, John Rylands University Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.

None expected.

The Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick holds the archive of the Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers (SLA).