Fall Break Hours

Please note that the Libraries have special hours and closed days for Fall Break. See the Library Hours page for all locations and details.

Manuscript Collections

Cropped view of a typed script with annotations made in pen.

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. The Modern Literature Collection is the largest material group focusing on Anglo and American literary manuscripts in the 20th and 21st centuries. Other significant holdings include Coptic Greek papyri fragments, European manuscript books and leaves, St. Louis literary events recorded on audiotapes, and American/European autograph collections of significant writers, scientists, politicians, and more. Contact the Curator of the Modern Literature Collection/Manuscripts Joel Minor for more information.

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Explore the Modern Literature Collection and Manuscripts Research Guide

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.