The University of Bradford Archive

University calendars; Senate committee papers and correspondence; Correspondence and committee papers of University officers; Newsletters, prospectuses, other publications; Press cuttings; Photographs, audiocassettes, videocassettes; Students Union publications.

The origins of the University of Bradford are in the Bradford Technical College, established in 1882. In 1957 the Bradford Institute of Technology was established as a College of Advanced Technology to take over the advanced work of Bradford Technical College. The Robbins Committee recommended in 1963 that CATs should receive university status, and the University of Bradford received its Royal Charter on 18 October 1966. The University's purpose was defined as "the advancement of learning and knowledge and the application of knowledge to human welfare, and in particular (although without prejudice to the foregoing) study and research in science and technology and collaboration for the furtherance of these objects with industry, commerce, the professions and other institutions." The first Vice-Chancellor was Dr E.G. Edwards, who had been Principal of the Bradford Institute of Technology.

Today the University has around 6,300 full-time undergraduates and around 800 full-time postgraduates. It has over 130 degree courses at undergraduate level and around 80 at postgraduate level. These are spread across the seven Academic Schools of Archaeological and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Health Studies, Informatics, Life Sciences, Management, and Social and International Studies. Part-time and short courses are available through the University's School of Lifelong Education and Development.

Boxes numbered, with an "X" prefix

Available to researchers, by appointment. Some material contains personal information and may be restricted.

The material has been transferred to the Archive from originating offices at irregular intervals from 1967 onwards.

In English

Brief descriptions can be found in the University library catalogue

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 bodies that preceded the University, namely the Bradford Technical College (1882-1957) and the Bradford Institute of Technology (1957-1966).

McKinlay, Robert A.: The University of Bradford, origins and development (Bradford: Bradford University Press, 1991); McKinlay, Robert A.: The University of Bradford, the early years (Bradford: University of Bradford, 1997)

19 cinefilms were deposited in July 2000 with the Yorkshire Film Archive at the University College of Ripon and York St John. Most of these had previously been transferred to U-matic videocassettes, which were in turn transferred to VHS videocassettes.