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.
Most special holdings relate to Chinese and Japanese literature, art, history, and religion. At the west end of the stacks on the second level of the Library is a special collection room where approximately 680 volumes of rare and special materials in Chinese and Japanese are maintained. The Library also has 110 volumes of special materials in Room 209. Special collections materials are available for use in the library.
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Collection Iwanami Bunko: Global Classics in Translation After WWII
“Iwanami Bunko/岩波文庫” allows for the spread of literature and broader academic titles around the world through its publication of paperbacks.View Collection about Iwanami Bunko: Global Classics in Translation After WWII -
Collection Rubbings of Taizong Horses
The East Asian Library has a complete set of six rubbings/paintings of Taizong horses in the special collection room.View Collection about Rubbings of Taizong Horses -
Collection Nelson I. Wu Collection
The collection includes books and journals in Chinese and Japanese art history, architecture, history, language and literature, philosophy, and Buddhism.View Collection about Nelson I. Wu Collection -
Collection Japanese Special Collection
The Japanese Special Collection contains pre-Meiji (pre-1867) watoji bon, wakoku bon kanseki, and titles produced after 1868.View Collection about Japanese Special Collection -
Collection Chinese Special Collection
The Chinese Special Collection includes: About 60 titles (120 volumes) of Chinese printed works produced between 1569 and 1795 About...View Collection about Chinese Special Collection -
Collection Thomas Temple Hoopes Collection
Consists of various materials of Japanese and Chinese art, history, languages, literature, and Japanese arms and armors.View Collection about Thomas Temple Hoopes Collection -
Collection Robert S. Elegant Collection
The collection covers the period of the Chinese Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1971.View Collection about Robert S. Elegant Collection -
Collection Chinese Almanac Collection
The collection consists of representative examples of Chinese almanacs.View Collection about Chinese Almanac Collection
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.