'I found Leeds' hidden history in Leeds United football programmes, flyers and café menus'

For many people, the idea of a special collections library conjures images of dusty old books tucked away on forgotten shelves.

But for Antony Ramm, manager of the Heritage and Research Department at Leeds Libraries, heritage is as much about preserving gig tickets, football programmes and café flyers as it is about caring for 500-year-old manuscripts.

Working from Leeds Central Library, Antony oversees both the Local and Family History Department and the Special Collections Department, bringing together the city's historical collections under one service.

"We do such a wide range of different things that it's hard to pin it down," said Antony.

At the heart of the role is helping people discover and connect with Leeds' history.

"A lot of it is about facilitating access and awareness to those collections so that people can use them, not just for research, although that is a big part of it, but also so that people can appreciate and enjoy them for their own sake," he said.

"We hold everything on behalf of the people of Leeds."

Alongside family history resources and local archives, the department cares for some of the city's most treasured historical items.

Among them are rare books printed before 1501, beautifully illustrated medieval prayer books and historic maps that offer a unique glimpse into the past.

One of Antony's favourite items is a late 15th-century Book of Hours, donated by Beryl Gott of the famous Leeds family.

"It’s effectively a prayer book from the late 15th century with really beautiful illustrations," he said.

Another treasured item is the Cistercian Missal, printed in 1516 and believed to have belonged to Kirkstall Abbey before the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The collections also include the rare Saxton Atlas of England and Wales, created in 1579 by cartographer Christopher Saxton, who grew up in the Leeds area.

Yet despite working with centuries-old treasures, one of Antony's greatest interests lies in a collection that tells the story of Leeds itself.

Last year he spent months researching Boyne's History of Leeds, a remarkable seven-volume work created by 19th-century collector William Boyne.

"He effectively illustrated Ralph Thoresby's original history of Leeds by acquiring manuscripts, original letters, maps and watercolours and inserting them into the book," Antony explained.

"It's fascinating both because of the material itself and because of the process he went through to collect and preserve it."

Preserving such collections requires careful balancing. While the library has a responsibility to protect fragile items for future generations, Antony is passionate about ensuring they remain accessible.

"We have to strike a balance between preserving things for future generations and facilitating access to them," he said.

Books are stored in carefully controlled environments, while specialist boxes, supports and conservation materials help protect them from damage.

"When you go to a museum or gallery and see books displayed on mounts or cushions, that's to ensure the spines are protected and the weight doesn't damage the books," Antony said.

Visitors are often surprised by the sheer scale and diversity of the collections.

"People just don't know what we have," he said.

Increasingly, Antony and his colleagues have focused on bringing collections to life through exhibitions, talks and public engagement projects.

One recent exhibition, Voice of the Fans, explored football fanzines and supporter culture.

Working alongside Leeds United supporters, Antony discovered many people were astonished by the breadth of what the library collects.

"They had no idea that the library service was still actively collecting material for our local history collections," he said.

"They were particularly surprised that we were interested in the experiences of football fans."

The exhibition highlighted something Antony is especially passionate about - contemporary collecting.

Alongside medieval manuscripts and historic maps, the library actively gathers football programmes, gig tickets, flyers, leaflets and other everyday items that help tell the story of modern Leeds.

"We send staff around the city centre every couple of months collecting leaflets from cafés, coffee shops, bars and independent businesses," Antony said.

"Often that record of those events and cultural activities just isn't captured anywhere else."

He believes these seemingly ordinary items will become invaluable records for future generations.

"People don't even think about them as collectable things," he said. "But in 20 years' time people will look back and say, 'I remember that place.'"

For Antony, preserving local heritage isn't simply about protecting objects. It's about ensuring the stories of Leeds and its communities are not lost.

"If libraries and other heritage organisations don't collect and preserve this material, we lose that sense of what the past was like," he said.

"You need that materiality of books, leaflets, maps and photographs to enable people to feel truly connected to the past."

He is particularly passionate about ensuring Leeds' collections reflect the full diversity of the city.

"If we don't work to collect and preserve those stories and voices, particularly some of the more marginalised histories, how do people construct histories that truly capture all the people of Leeds?" Antony said.

When asked what single item he would encourage people to discover, Antony struggles to choose.

"We have something for everyone," he said.

Instead, he encourages people to visit and explore for themselves.

"People have this belief that everything is available online and, particularly when it comes to local history and special collections material, that really isn't the case," he said.

"A large percentage of the material we hold just isn't available online."

Among the current highlights on display is the Lord Mayor's visitors' book signed by Leeds United players who formed part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, including legendary manager Don Revie.

"You have to come to the library to physically see that material and engage with it," Antony said.

"It's a genuine part of history that you just cannot experience online in the same way."

Although he has become one of the public faces of Leeds Libraries' heritage work, Antony is keen to stress that preserving and sharing the city's history is a collective effort.

"Everything that we do in the library service is a team effort," he said.

"Everyone, from our library assistants right through to the senior librarians, contributes. Everything we know about the collections and everything we achieve comes from people working together."

For Antony and his colleagues, heritage isn't simply about looking backwards.

It's about preserving the stories, experiences and voices that will help future generations understand what Leeds was, and what it continues to become.