The Library holds a wide diversity of materials relating to peace, whose origins cover a wide political spectrum, religious affiliation and geographical location, from the local to regional, national and indeed international.
There is an occupational strand with doctors (Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons), scientists (World Federation of Scientific Workers), engineering workers (Lucas Aerospace) and trade unionists (TUCND).
There is also material on prisoners of conscience, such as the No Conscription Fellowship and Mordechai Vanunu. In terms of time range it goes back to the 19th century and before e.g. Boer War, First War of Indian Independence, World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars I and II etc.
The Library holdings are not simply about peace per se but also cover a wide range of activist campaigning that challenges the status quo, on topics such as civil disobedience, non-violent direct action, nuclear weapons and civil defence. A list of some organisations represented in our collection is here.
The Library also holds archive material from the Greater Manchester and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. The archive contains minutes, reports, newsletters, financial papers and campaign and promotional material for national, district and local groups.