Autograph
Charles Hallé
28th March 1888

This is the autographed menu card from Lady Hallé's dinner she hosted in honour of Queen Alexandra. The dinner was held at the Hallé's home in Linden Gardens in London. It is relevant to Manchester because, as legend has it, this dinner was the first time that Sir and Lady Hallé approached anyone important about the idea of starting a music conservatoire in Manchester. We can see that the guest list was pretty impressive. We've got autographs here not just from the Queen herself but also from Clara Schumann and Olga Neruda.
It was only a few years later that the idea of the Royal Manchester College of Music was presented to the public.

Reference: Man-Mus/9