Coal mining collections
Research guides
Historical sources relating to the coal mining industry in Britain are held by many different organisations across the country. This guide includes information about the location of some of the main national and regional collections.
The Modern Records Centre holds key archive collections relating to the coal mining industry and mining trade unionism. This guide provides a general overview and includes links to the archive catalogues.
Guide to researching mining ancestors in the Modern Records Centre's archives.
Guide to selected sources relating to safety, health and welfare in the coal industry.
The 1926 General Strike was called in support of the Miners鈥� Federation of Great Britain. This guide identifies key archive collections about the dispute held at the Modern Records Centre.
This subject guide highlights some of the main archive collections at the Modern Records Centre which contain material relating to the 1984-5 Miners' Strike.
Digitised collections
Documents relating to the colliers of Yorkshire and the mining trade unions who represented them.
The digitised collection includes selected items from the archives of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, formed in 1881, and the YMA's two predecessors the South Yorkshire Miners' Association and West Yorkshire Miners' Association, both formed in 1858. The online sources also include a rare surviving set of rules from an early 19th century miners' friendly society, established in Wakefield in 1811.
Selection of primary sources relating to industrial health and welfare in Britain during the 1870s-1980s, including documents relating to the mining industry.
The sources examine some of the dangers within the workplace and campaigns to improve safety, health and welfare for the men and women at work.
Primary sources relating to the National Union of Mineworkers and the 1984/5 Miners' Strike.
The collection includes leaflets, pamphlets and other publicity material produced by the National Union of Mineworkers at national and local level, and by local community groups which supported the strike.
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