A short history of the University

The University is the direct descendant of the Young Men's Mental Improvement Society, which started in 1841. This Society became the Huddersfield Mechanics' Institution in 1843 and remained so until 1884 when it, together with the Female Educational Institute (1846-1883), became the Technical School and Mechanics' Institute. This became the Technical College in 1896 and was succeeded by the College of Technology in 1958. In 1970 the College and the Oastler College amalgamated to become Huddersfield Polytechnic. The Polytechnic of Huddersfield became the University of Huddersfield in 1992.

J O'Connell's brief history "From Mechanics' Institution to Polytechnic ... 1841 - 1970" appears in Huddersfield: a most handsome town, edited by EAH Haigh (1992), ISBN 0 900746