Reference/Libraries/Special Collections

Reference / Libraries / Special Collections /

Special Collections libraries collect, preserve, archive, and provide guarded access to rare, valuable, and unique materials. These materials can range widely and can include first or unusual editions of monographs; manuscripts; incunabulae (books printed in the 15th century); photographs; maps; realia (objects rather than printed or photographic material); materials focusing on a particular subject or historical era; or archival documents for an institution, organization, or individual. This category is for the web sites of Special Collections libraries.

Related Categories

Ranked Sites

Eli Siegel Collection

Collection includes books on literature, philosophy, history, art, economics, and science, many of which contain handwritten annotations by Mr. Siegel (1902-1978). The Collection is open by appointment to persons seriously studying Aesthetic Realism.

6
22,443,904
NA
218
5
NA

The Rothschild Archive

Located in London, England, the archive was established to preserve the record of a family that was widely recognized for contributions to the economic, political, and social history of many countries throughout the world.

5
3,421,071
NA
1,740
1,620
2

National First Ladies Library

Located in the home of Ida McKinley in Canton, Ohio, this library includes biographies, photos, oral histories, and other materials about U.S. First Ladies.

6
1,171,669
NA
4,360,000
8,610
128

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Includes materials in a variety of languages plus a special collection of United Nations resources.

NA
61,600
NA
126,000
27,800
217

Kent State University Special Collections

Contains works of literature, performing arts, and histories of crime, labor, and printing dating back to the 1800's.

4
19,469
NA
27,100
3,290
7

National Air Photo Library

[English, French] Collection containing millions of aerial photographs of Canada from the 1920s to present.

5
551
NA
4,530
612
1

L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Collection specializes in the Renaissance and Reformation time periods.

6
7,095
NA
68,800
2
3

Balson Holdings Family Trust

Historical collections including politics, maps, coins, bank notes, and African artifacts.

4
23,259,931
NA
8,290
3
NA

Josep Bosch Historical Newspapers Collection

A project to recover, restore, preserve and exhibit historical newspapers from all over the world. The emphasis is to collect newspapers published in the city or country where the event took place.

4
22,348,652
NA
241
52
NA

The Great White Fleet

Presents the history and a collection of rare items related to the 1908 fleet of battleships called the Great White Fleet.

5
3,671,571
NA
33,000
1,080
3

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