Washington University Archives
The University Archives chronicles the history of WashU from 1853 to today, with over 300 unique collections, including campus publications, reports, photographic prints and negatives, books, film, sound recordings, oral histories, architectural plans, and artifacts.
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Explore the University Archives Research Guides
Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research
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Collection Campus Architecture
Explore WashU's historic campus architecture, masonry, decorative grotesques, and more through our digitized resources.View Collection about Campus Architecture -
Collection Early University History
From the earliest surviving letter to our Inaugural Address, these items showcase the beginnings of WashU.View Collection about Early University History -
Collection Catalogs, Course Bulletins, and Alumni Directories
University Archives has physical copies of catalogs, course bulletins, and alumni directories. A few are digitized and available online.View Collection about Catalogs, Course Bulletins, and Alumni Directories -
Collection Russell Sturgis Photograph Collection
Focuses on European architectural details, topographical views, sculpture, and painting, there are also images from other cities and archaeological sites.View Collection about Russell Sturgis Photograph Collection -
Collection Grotesques, Glass, & Graham
A history of the Benjamin Brown Graham Memorial Chapel on the WashU Danforth Campus.View Collection about Grotesques, Glass, & Graham -
Collection 1904 World’s Fair
Researchers interested in the history of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition will find a variety of materials in several collections.View Collection about 1904 World’s Fair
Collecting Areas
Digital Collections
Digital Collections highlight those portions of the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections that have been made or born-digital.
Dowd Illustration Research Archive
The Dowd Illustration Research Archive (formerly Dowd Modern Graphic History Library) at WashU includes original art and printed material from many popular American pictorial graphic culture fields.
East Asian Library Special Collections
The East Asian Library's special collection includes about 900 volumes of rare and special books, manuscripts, and other materials.
Film & Media Archive
The Archive is committed to the preservation of documentary film and other media which chronicles America's great political and social movements with a particular emphasis on the African-American experience.
Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library Special Collections
The Art & Architecture Special Collections is a 4,200-volume collection of rare and unique art and design printed materials located at the Kranzberg Art & Architecture Library. The main focus is illustrated books, prints, and photographs from the 18th and 19th centuries and contemporary book design.
Local History Collections
The local history collecting area focuses on the history of St. Louis and the surrounding region.
Manuscript Collections
WashU Libraries' Julian Edison Department of Special Collections Manuscript collections contain a broad range of materials dating from the 2nd century BC through the present.
Modern Literature Collection
The Modern Literature Collection includes more than 175 authors, presses, and journals, more than 125 of which are represented by manuscript materials.
Music Special Collections
Special Collections at the Gaylord Music Library include sheet music, manuscripts, rare books, and digital materials.
Rare Book Collections
The Rare Book Collections include books from all Special Collection areas. The collections’ primary strengths are in literature, the material culture of the book, including the history of printing, graphic design, and the book arts, and aspects of American and world history.
Washington University Archives
The University Archives chronicles the history of WashU from 1853 to today with over 300 unique collections, including campus publications, reports, photographic prints and negatives, books, film, sound recordings, oral histories, architectural plans, and artifacts.