Rare Book Collections
When the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections opened in 1962, the WashU Libraries owned a small rare book collection, the finest pieces of which had been donated by St. Louis collector William Keeney Bixby. The Rare Book Collections now include over 70,000 printed pieces representing all the disciplines the Libraries collect.
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.
These collections span seven centuries of written and visual communication. They support teaching and discovery across WashU and are freely accessible to students, scholars, and visiting researchers.
The Art and Architecture, Music, East Asian, School of Medicine, and School of Law libraries house additional collections of rare materials.
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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 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.