RNCM Archives

The RNCM Archives preserves 18 rich collections of records, compositions, and personal papers that span our 53‑year history, as well as the earlier heritage of our founding institutions: the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music.

Come and explore collections that tell the remarkable story of music in Manchester, and the people who have shaped, performed, and taught it.

What you’ll discover

Explore the history of the RNCM and its predecessor institutions.
Get to know influential figures such as Adolph Brodsky, Elizabeth Harwood, the Carroll family, Philip Jones, and many more.
Enjoy stunning photographs of operas, buildings, events and the individuals who brought them to life.
Be inspired by beautiful original music manuscripts and experience history first‑hand.

Browse the full catalogue

Get Inolved

Donate to the collections

Our Archivist, Heather Roberts, welcomes enquiries about material that may enrich our collections. This includes items relating to the history, work, staff, students, and friends of the RNCM, the Royal Manchester College of Music, and the Northern School of Music.

Are you in the archive?

Did you or a relative study here? Our holdings include performance programmes, photographs, Principal’s notices, some student registers, and more. Get in touch via [email protected] we may be able to help uncover your story.

Interact with the collection

All visitors are welcome! If you would like to interact with our collections, please book at least one week in advance so that Heather can advise on material and prepare for your visit.

You can also:

Browse our online catalogues
Discover Alumni Archive Recordings (1973-1994)
Explore thousands of images via the Manchester Digital Music Archive
Discuss potential heritage or archive projects

Highlights include:

Personal papers and materials relating to Adolph Brodsky, Philip Newman, Elizabeth Harwood, and Walter and Ida Carroll;
Correspondence involving Sir Charles Hallé, EJ Broadfield, Gustav Behrens, and others;
Organisational archives from the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music;
The performing archive of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble;
Compositions and related papers by Alan Rawsthorne, John Ogdon, Thomas Pitfield, Arthur Butterworth, and John Golland; and
A collection of autograph manuscripts, including works by Delius

To contact our archivist direct, please email [email protected].

Collection of Historic Musical Instruments

Our Collection of Historic Musical Instruments is an amalgamation of two collections originally assembled by Dr Henry Watson (1846-1911), and a smaller collection by Josiah Thomas Chapman (1843-1907). It comprises more than 300 instruments (European wind, strings, and keyboard; Non-European wind, strings, and percussion), including several keyboards by Broadwood; viols by Barak Norman and Collingwood; violins by Stradivarius and Guarnerius; and other wind instruments from the 18th and early 19th centuries. The items of non-European ethnic origin are also of interest.

Visit the Collection

Housed in the basement of the main College building, underneath the RNCM Library to the left of the main entrance on Booth Street West, the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments is open to the public on specific days and times during term time. It can be accessed using the staircase behind the RNCM Box Office or by the lift situated opposite the library. Please note that outside advertised opening hours access is restricted.

view the collection