Library

The Smirfitt Library

Book in advance.

Our extensive research library is available to all researchers. The Smirfitt Library was dedicated in honour of Jack Smirfitt. For forty years Jack was the Librarian at HATRA, and for his last fifteen years he was the Honorary Curator at the Museum.

The Library holds copies of all the major classic works on the framework knitting and hosiery industries, together with complete runs of trade journals, house magazines, academic research, histories of hosiery firms, confidential consultants’ and market research organisations’ reports, plus various pamphlets and government reports.

As the repository of much of the former HATRA library, it has a full set of HATRA Research Reports.

Our collection includes works in a variety of languages including Japanese and Russian. The archive also features original documents and ephemeral material from manufacturers who no longer exist. This is supplemented by an archive of historic film footage.

The Library is available for reference only.
It is available by appointment, from Wednesday to Friday 11am to 4pm.
Please contact us in advance.