University of Michigan Library
University of Michigan Library

Special Collections

Find and access materials

Our guidance on finding special collections and archival materials provides a general overview, while the collecting area descriptions here include links to relevant finding aids and catalog records.

Visit access special collections materials for details on how to find and use specific items in our Special Collections Research Center.

Our collecting areas

  1. Art, Architecture, and Engineering Library Special Collections

    Rare, fragile, and limited editions of materials related to art and architecture, including early sketchbooks, photographs, blueprints, and artists’ books.

  2. Book Arts Special Collections

    Artists’ books, fine press publications, and related archival materials.

  3. Children's Literature Special Collection

    Classic, pop-up and movable books, works by Midwestern authors and publishers, and archival material.

  4. Early Printed Books

    Imprints, incunables, and early printed books created by significant presses, printers, and type designers.

  5. European History Special Collection

    Pamphlets, bibles, and early printed books covering early modern European politics, religion, and military advances.

  6. History of Astronomy and Mathematics

    Treaties, star atlases, manuscripts, and other materials documenting scientific developments in astronomy and related disciplines.

  7. History of Medicine

    Materials documenting the history of medicine from antiquity through the 20th century.

  8. Islamic Manuscripts

    Rich range of texts demonstrating manuscript production across historical periods and Islamicate cultural areas.

  9. Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive

    Materials on the American culinary experience including cookbooks, ephemera, and restaurant menus.

  10. Joseph A. Labadie Collection

    Books, pamphlets, ephemera, and more chronicling anarchism, political and social movements, and related topics.

  11. Literature Special Collections

    Published literary holdings spanning several centuries, in various languages. Also includes archival holdings, mostly poets of the 20th century.

  12. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts

    Manuscript leaves, fragments, and codices from the 6th to the 16th centuries.

  13. Music Library Special Collections

    Sheet music collections, plus scores, papers, recordings, and more.

  14. Papyrology Collection

    A renowned collection of ancient texts dating from about 1,000 BCE to 1,000 CE.

  15. Philippine History Special Collection

    Published works, manuscript items, and photographs documenting colonialist aspects of Philippine history in the early 1900s.

  16. Screen Arts Mavericks and Makers

    Papers and other materials from notable independent filmmakers and distributors documenting the film production process.

  17. Theatre History Special Collection

    Published and archival materials relevant to theatre history, particularly in the United States.

  18. Transportation History

    A unique body of work covering transportation modes and infrastructure.

  19. William A. Gosling Pop-up and Movable Book Collection

    Pop-up and movable books, primarily commercially produced, dating back to the 19th century.