Educational Institutions.—Manchester Uni versity (q.v.) was reconstructed as an inde pendent corporation in 1903. It was originally founded as the Victoria University in 1880, with a federation of the Owens College, Manchester, and the University College, Liverpool, as its colleges, to which the Yorkshire College at Leeds was afterward added; but in 1903 a sepa rate university charter was granted to each pity. The Owens College, which has now been incorporated with the university, was founded in 1850 by the aid of nearly f100,000 left by Mr. John Owens. It began work in a large house formerly occupied by Richard Cobden and was removed to the present fine buildings in 1873. Since then the Museum, Christie Li brary, medical school, physiological and other laboratories and the Whitworth Hall have been added and the institution has benefited from many large gifts and bequests. The splendid Municipal School of Technology is affiliated to the university, and the subjects in the faculty of technology are taken there. The faculty of theology was instituted in 1904, and the co operation of the various theological colleges was obtained. These include Baptist, Free Metho dist, Independent, Primitive Methodist, Roman Catholic, Unitarian and Wesleyan colleges. The oldest educational institution in the city is the Grammar School, founded by Bishop Hugh Oldham in 1515. It has now 1,070 scholars. Many distinguished names appear an the records of its alumni. Cherham's Hospital is named below. The following may be added: The Girls' High School, the Hulme Grammar School (founded by the Hulmean trustees), the Nich olls Hospital, Warehousemen and Clerks' School and the Royal Manchester College of Music, founded in 1893, as well as the numer ous elementary and other schools.
Libraries,— Of libraries, the most recent, the John Rylands Library, is the most widely known, on account of its marvelous collection of rare and costly books and manuscripts. Its 100,000 volumes embrace the Althorp Library, purchased from Earl Spencer, and Lord Craw ford's collection of manuscripts. It was founded and endowed by Mrs. Rylands in mem ory of her husband and was opened in 1899. The Chetham Library dates from 1656, from which time it has been open free to all, and is part of the foundation of Humphrey Chethatn, the other part being a hospital or school for poor children. The Public Free libraries were established in 1852 and are supported by a pub lic rate, which now yields over f35,000 a year. The chief or reference library contained (1913) 174,931 volumes and the 24 branch or lending libraries some 253,000 volumes. The Christie Library at the university was built by the late Mr. R. C. Christie, and on its shelves are the entire libraries of Mr. Christie, of Bishop Prince Lee, Prof. E. A. Freeman, in addition to other special and general collections. The Medical and Law libraries belong to the members of those professions, and there are other public and semi-public libraries of importance.
Art City Art Gallery has been maintained by the corporation since 1882 and contains many fine examples of the British school, particularly works of Millais, Leighton, Holman Hunt, G. F. Watts and other modern
artists. In this gallery, which formerly be longed to the Royal Institution, annual exhibi tions have been held since 1827. The Man chester Academy of Fine Arts also holds its exhibitions here. Attached to the Municipal School of Art is a well-arranged art museum, and in the Whitworth Institute galleries in Whitworth Park will be found a rich collec tion of pictures, including a nearly complete series of specimens of the best English water colors, from those of Sandby, Girtin and Tur ner onward. The institute is one of many bene factions enjoyed by Manchester from money left by Sir Joseph Whitworth.
When the diocese of Man chester was founded in 1847 'the Collegiate Church became the cathedral. It is of un known origin, hut the present perpendicular Gothic building was raised, on an earlier foundation, about 1422. A large part has been rebuilt, mainly on the old lines, in recent years, yet many interesting portions of earlier building remain. The ancient stalls in their choir have exquisitely carved canopies. The ancient parish consisted of 29 townships, in cluding Salford, and some of them had chapels of their own. In 1850 The ancient parish was divided into independent parishes by Act of Parliament. Next to the cathedral the oldest church is Saint Ann's (1712), which contains some beautiful windows by F. G. Shields. Many of the 19th century churches are of con siderable pretensions. Besides 91 belonging to the Church of England there are 28 Roman Catholic churches and many others belonging to various sects. The Jews have 11 synagogues, and there is a Greek and an Armenian church.
Hospitals.— Hospitals to the number of 17, all maintained by voluntary subscription, are provided for the treatment of nearly every complaint to which the human frame is liable. The Royal Infirmary is the chief one. Saint Mary's Hospital and the Eye Hospital are others of large dimensions, while to the Hos pital for Consumption is attached a sanatorium at Delamere in Cheshire, which was provided at a cost of i70,000 by a local benefactor (W. J. Crossley). In addition there are several dis pensaries and asylums, and a large number of charitable institutions of various kinds.
Societies.— The literary and scientific so cieties are many in number and of high stand ing. The Chatham Society and the Record So ciety devote themselves to the publication of historical records of Lancashire and Cheshire. The Antiquarian Society (1883) has similar ob jects. The Literary and Philosophical Society was founded in 1781, the Literary Club in 1862, the Statistical Society in 1833, the Geological Society in 1839, the Geographical Society in 1884. These, as well as the Microscopical, and some other societies, all publish their transac tions. Musical societies are numerous and vigorous, and the artists, architects, lawyers, doctors, accountants and men of other callings have their own societies.