Chinese

  1. Brief history

    There have been Chinese living in the city since 1851.

  2. What's available

    The Manchester Chinese Community Archive was a Heritage Lottery Fund-supported project led by the Manchester Chinese Centre. The collection includes the personal archives the community's members as well as lots of publications which document the life of the community as a whole (ref GB127.CHI).

    Pupils from Manchester Grammar School have used trade directories and census returns to trace the history of Chinese businesses in the Manchester area. The earliest listed Chinese business we have discovered is in a 1907 Manchester directory. The results of this project is on Google Maps.

    We hold the following printed material:

    Reference to the Chinese is also made in the Manchester Evening Chronicle 1958 series 'Strangers in our Midst'.

  3. How to access

    Resources marked with GB are available in the search room, please make an appointment.

    Library members can find and reserve the other resources mentioned by following the links to our library catalogue.

  4. Photographs

    See photos and more of our albums on Flickr.

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