Collections

The Special Collections Library traces its roots back to the 1890s when a section of the main library's stacks was set off as a secure area for valuable materials. The University of Michigan was one of the first libraries in the United States to recognize the need to provide special accomodations for rare and valuable library resources.

As part of the University Library system, the Special Collections Library reflects the depth and breadth of the subject areas and academic disciplines represented in campus libraries. Its holdings include some of the oldest manuscript and printed books in the Library's collections as well as world-renown collections in a number of specific subjects. The size of the holdings are suggested in these figures:

• over 200,000 volumes of published books and serials
• 5,000 linear feet of archival material
• 1,400 early manuscripts on vellum and paper
• 45,000 photographs, daguerreotypes through digital prints
• 30,000 pamphlets
• 20,000 posters and prints
• 16,000 theatre programs

Access

Monographs, serials, single manuscripts and many archival and manuscript collections have been cataloged and may be found in Michigan's bibliographic database, Mirlyn. In addition, there is a card catalog in the Library's Reading Room, which can reveal resources that are not described in Mirlyn, most notably portions of the Transportation History Collection.

Many large archival and manuscript collections, in all subject areas, have been fully processed and are described in finding aids. A number of these may be found online at the Special Collections Library's finding aid website. Additional finding aids are housed in the Reading Room on the 7th floor of Hatcher Graduate Library.

Collections and Subject Areas

Ancient Manuscripts and Early Printed Books

Literature

Theatre, Drama, Television & Film

Armenian Studies

Jewish Culture and History

Labadie Collection

Children's Literature Collection

Transportation History Collection

History of Mathematics & Astronomy

Social Sciences

Power Collection for the Study of Scholarly Communication and Information Transfer