The Bradford Institute of Technology Archive

Minutes and meeting papers of the Governing Body, the Board of Studies, the Academic Board, Heads of Departments, Library Committee, Special Committees of Studies, and Committee on Academic Dress; Calendars and prospectuses; Principal's files: reports, meetings, correspondence, articles and addresses; Records of attendance; Examination results; Finance Officer : wages and salaries, ledgers, accounts; Information Office: correspondence, News sheet, press statements and cuttings, publicity film; Library: Librarian's report, library indexes, publications of the Institute; Students union publications and accounts; Photographs of sites and events; Bradford City Council minutes 1956-1962.

In 1956 Bradford Technical College, founded in 1882, was provisionally designated one of the country's first Colleges of Advanced Technology. In May 1957 the designation was confirmed, under the name "The Bradford Institute of Technology" and in September a Principal was appointed, Dr. E.G. Edwards (previously Principal of Liverpool College of Technology). The name of Bradford Technical College was retained, however, as an institution to undertake work of a level below Higher National Certificate.

The Institute's purpose was to "provide a broad range and substantial volume of work exclusively at an advanced level including postgraduate and research work" under conditions comparable with those of a university. Courses leading to degree-equivalent Diplomas in Technology were instituted and the London External degrees were continued. In 1962 Bradford City Council relinquished control of the Institute, which became responsible directly to the Ministry of Education.

The work of the Institute expanded rapidly: in 1957 there were 124 students enrolled on degree courses and 56 lecturers and senior members of academic staff, by 1966 there were 2,600 students and over 350 academic staff.

In 1966 the Institute was granted its Royal Charter and became the University of Bradford.

Arranged under numbered subject headings, with the prefix T.

Available to researchers, by appointment.

The archives were transferred to the University of Bradford in 1966 as the body succeeding the Institute.

In English

Unpublished handlist

Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of Special Collections staff, subject to copyright law and the condition of the originals. Applications for permission to make published use of any material should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian in the first instance. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

The Library also holds archives of the body that preceded the Institute, the Bradford Technical College (1882-1957), and the body that succeeded it, the University of Bradford (1966-).

McKinlay, Robert A.: The University of Bradford, origins and development (Bradford : Bradford University Press, 1991)