UMIST Athletic Union Archive

Extant archive of the UMIST Athletic Union. The archive comprises the minutes of the Union's main committees, including the Committee/Council, general meetings and the finance committee. There are significant gaps in the records, particularly for the 1930s, and possibly the pre-1910 era. There are also records of the award of colours from the 1920s to the 1960s. One Club record - for the Women's Hockey Club - is also present.

The UMIST Athletic Union is believed to have been established in the early twentieth century as the Faculty of Technology Athletic Union. The Faculty of Technology was composed of University of Manchester students studying for degrees in technological subjects. The Faculty was located at the Manchester Municipal School of Technology (MMST), owned and run by Manchester Council, but was part of the University of Manchester in matters of academic policy. In 1956, the Council relinquished control, and the Manchester College of Science and Technology was set up, primarily to conduct University-level courses. This body became the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1965. Close ties were retained with the University of Manchester until the 1990s.

The Technology students were distinct body at the School (later College) of Technology, having limited contacts with the more numerous vocational students. The Technology students ran their own organizations including a Students Union and an Athletic Union, and were independent of the main body of University of Manchester students. Nevertheless, the Athletic Union maintained close contacts with its counterpart at the University of Manchester, and UMIST students were automatically enrolled in University Athletic Union. Joint sports clubs existed for minority and specialised sports.

The role of the Athletic Union was to co-ordinate activities of constituent sports clubs, and to liaise with UMIST authorities in matters relating to facilities, finance and official recognition. Like other Athletic Unions, it recognised sporting distinction by the award of colours to successful athletes. The Athletic Union oversaw facilities at a number of sites, including the sports ground at Lytham Road, Rusholme, and then at the Hardy Farm sports ground,Chorlton-cum-Hardy, which opened in the 1970s. A gymnasium operated for many years on K floor of the main UMIST building. Students also had access to the University of Manchester sports centre, the McDougall Centre, until the 1990s, when a joint sports facility, the Sugden Centre, was opened with sports halls, gymnasia etc.

The Union was governed initially by an Executive Committee, which originally reported to the Students Union, but later became independent. This was later succeeded by a Council, which was elected by an annual general meeting. In 1987 UMIST Council established a Sports Policy and Resources Committee to develop sports policy and oversee sporting facilities; the Athletic Union was represented on this body. In 2004 the UMIST Athletic Union merged with its University of Manchester counterpart on the creation of the new University of Manchester.

Arranged by series; chronological arrangement within series.

The collection is open to any accredited reader.

The collection includes material which is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018. Under the Act 2018 (DPA), The University of Manchester Library (UML) holds the right to process personal data for archiving and research purposes. In accordance with the DPA, UML has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately. Users of the archive are expected to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, and will be required to sign a form acknowledging that they will abide by the requirements of the Act in any further processing of the material by themselves.

Transferred to the University Archives in 2006 by the Athletic Union.

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 Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.

Further accruals possible.

The University of Manchester Athletic Union archive will have extensive, complementary material on its sporting activities (AUA).

Minutes of the Sports Policy and Resources Committee can be fond in the UMIST governing bodies archive (TGB/2/1). See also the archive of the UMIST Students Union (TSU). Union newspapers such as T.N.T. and Grip, may include reports of sporting activities, see TMP.