Special Collections Catalogue

Research guides

To support your research of our archives, we have created a number of guides and web resources that provide a brief introduction to themes explored in our collections. 

For example, sources for a history of education and social justice in our Trades Union Congress Library collections. 

Trades Union Congress Library Collections

The TUC Library is the major research library for the study of all aspects of trade unions, collective bargaining and labour history, with both historical and contemporary coverage. The emphasis is on Britain, but many other countries are represented, especially Europe and the Commonwealth.

The core areas of the collection are the publications of the TUC since its foundation in 1868, reference and historical works on the labour and trade union movement, union publications from the UK and overseas, and documents relating to working conditions and industrial relations in various industries. 

Education for Social Justice in the TUC Library
Sources for Caribbean Studies in the TUC collections
Sources for the History of Education
Sources for the History of Race Relations and BAME Workers
Sources for the study of the European Labour Movement in the TUC collections
Sources for the study of Women and Gender Issues in the TUC collections
Researching housing, construction and city planning in the TUC collections
Sources for the study of Black Trade Unionists in the TUC Library
Researching LGBT issues in the TUC collections  
Federation of Worker Writer and Community Publishers Collection Complete Guide

 

Frederick Parker Chair and Archive Collection

The Frederick Parker Collection is a unique and outstanding collection of almost 200 British chairs, ranging in date from 1660 to the present day. The collection also includes a substantial archive of related historical documents, artefacts and some company information covering the period 1880 to 2001.

The Frederick Parker Chair online catalogue