One of the important objectives of the Society from its foundation in 1889 has been to collect and preserve records relating to the history of Leeds and its surrounding areas. Over more than a century, the Society has built up a number of special collections, notably its archive, map and image collections, which have recently been re-catalogued to make them more accessible. These collections are housed in the Society’s library, based at the Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds LS1 6AL. They are listed below, with information on the catalogues now available for consultation and search online.
Visits to view any of the contents of the special collections can be arranged through the librarian on: library@thoresby.org.uk. Please give all relevant details and catalogue reference numbers to identify what you want to see, and give as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least a week.
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An extensive and very varied collection of donated/purchased items (medieval onwards) comprising original documents, property deeds, parish records, correspondence, diaries and memoirs, research notes, etc; with a special collection of original records relating to Ralph Thoresby, including letters, personal papers, books and MSS from his library and his annotated copy of the Ducatus Leodiensis.
A collection of contemporary abstracts, or copies, of legal documents, mainly abstracts of title deeds. These are handwritten or typed copies of property deeds and documents produced by legal clerks before the days of photocopiers and scanners.
The Society has a collection of some 4,500 images of Leeds and the surrounding area. These include photographs, prints, engravings, watercolours, sketch-books, postcards and transparencies, and a large collection of glass lantern slides and original glass plates (Alf Mattison collection and others). Almost 2,000 of these images have been scanned and can be seen online in the Members Area of the website. We have also produced a catalogue which lists many of the unscanned images not yet available online but which can be seen by calling in to view our collection.
Over 600 maps and plans of Leeds and surroundings, from the 16th century onwards, some photocopies but mainly original sheets, including some unique/rare private estate plans.
Some 1500 + Leeds-related items, including tickets, invitations, programmes, advertisements, political flyers and posters, voting papers, orders of service, etc. , with additional collections of music and theatre programmes and posters. Includes collections of Modern Leeds Ephemera donated by Liz Minkin and Alan Slomson.
Some gems from the Library & Archives of the Thoresby Society. This section has articles and photographs of treasured items from the society archives.
Over more than a century, the Society has built up a number of special collections, notably its archive, map and image collections, which have recently been re-catalogued to make them more accessible. These collections are housed in the Society’s library, based at the Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds LS1 6AL.