Rare Book Collections
Rare Book Collections
When the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections opened in 1962, the Washington University Libraries owned a small rare book collection, the finest pieces of which had been donated by St. Louis collector William Keeney Bixby. Now, the Rare Book Collections include over 70,000 printed pieces and represent all the disciplines the University Libraries collect.
The Rare Book Collections include books from all Special Collection areas. The collections’ primary strengths are in the areas of 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.
Spanning seven centuries of written and visual communication, these collections support teaching and discovery across the University and are freely accessible to students, scholars, and visiting researchers.
Additional collections of rare materials are housed in the Art and Architecture, Music, East Asian, School of Medicine, and School of Law libraries.
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Collection William K. Bixby Collection
William K. Bixby made significant donations of manuscripts, letters, and printed books to the Washington University Libraries. The Bixby Collection...View Collection about William K. Bixby Collection -
Collection Triple Crown Collection
This Collection includes the published output of the Kelmscott, Doves, and Ashendene presses, which together represent the pinnacle of English...View Collection about Triple Crown Collection -
Collection Holly Hall Book Arts Collection
Responsible for guiding the Department's collection of the book arts, Holly Hall was particularly interested in materials discussing the nature...View Collection about Holly Hall Book Arts Collection -
Collection Movable Book Collection
Books with moving parts have been around for centuries and encompass all genres. The Movable Book Collection holds books and...View Collection about Movable Book Collection -
Collection Eric Gill Collection
Documents Eric Gill’s interests and activities over the course of his lifetime.View Collection about Eric Gill Collection -
Collection George N. Meissner Collection
Fine books from the 15th century to the present, including early illuminated manuscripts and incunabula.View Collection about George N. Meissner Collection -
Collection Henrietta Hochschild Collection of Children’s Books
The Henrietta Hochschild Collection studies the influence of fairy tales, and fantasy on the development of writers and artists.View Collection about Henrietta Hochschild Collection of Children’s Books -
Collection Isador Mendle Memorial Collection
The collection focuses on developments in printing since the Industrial Revolution with an emphasis on the last 100 years.View Collection about Isador Mendle Memorial Collection -
Collection James E. and Joan Singer Schiele Print Collection
This Collection contains Civil War prints and other historical images with a special highlight on thirty-six Kurz & Allison prints.View Collection about James E. and Joan Singer Schiele Print Collection -
Collection Philip Mills Arnold Semeiology Collection
The Collection is concerned with the history of communications and includes materials from 1490 to the present, ranging in subject...View Collection about Philip Mills Arnold Semeiology Collection -
Collection Shimeon Brisman Collection in Jewish Studies
The Brisman Collection in Jewish Studies was purchased by Washington University in 1972. Half of the volumes are in Hebrew;...View Collection about Shimeon Brisman Collection in Jewish Studies -
Collection Julian and Hope Edison Collection of Miniature Books
Julian and Hope Edison Collection of miniature books includes over 3,500 titles.View Collection about Julian and Hope Edison Collection of Miniature Books
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 Washington University is comprised of original art and printed material from many fields of popular American pictorial graphic culture.
East Asian Library Special Collections
The East Asian Library houses about 800 volumes of rare and special books, manuscripts, and other types of materials in its special collection.
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 3,600 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.
Local History
The local history collecting area focuses on the history of St. Louis and the surrounding region.
Manuscript Collections
Washington University 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, with more than 125 of these 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 the areas of 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.
University Archives
Washington University Archives chronicles the history of Washington University in St. Louis 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.