Special Collections
Explore Our Collections
WashU Libraries collect, preserve, promote, and make accessible rare, archival, and primary source materials that enrich teaching, learning, and research for the university community and beyond.
The Julian Edison Department of Special Collections focuses on six primary areas: the Dowd Illustration Research Archive, Film & Media Archive, Local History, Manuscripts, Rare Books, and the University Archives. An active program of class visits, exhibitions, workshops, and public events highlights the department’s vital role in scholarship at WashU and the wider community.
To search our collections, visit the Special Collections Research & Access page.
To learn more about giving to Special Collections, visit the Donating to Special Collections page.
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Collection Jack Willis Collection
Documentary materials tackling racism, poverty, and environmental issues focusing on “unheard voices, unserved voices.”View Collection about Jack Willis Collection -
Collection University Publications Collections
Repository for publications such as the University newspaper, alumni publications, departmental newsletters, admission publications, and more.View Collection about University Publications Collections -
Collection St. Louis Politics & Activism
The St. Louis History Collection holds the City of St. Louis Mayor's administrations and board of aldermen files, offering a...View Collection about St. Louis Politics & Activism -
Collection St. Louis Architecture Collections
Detailed original drawings for notable local structures along with documents from architectural firms.View Collection about St. Louis Architecture Collections -
Collection Eyes on the Prize
A 14-part series that is considered to be the definitive documentary on the Civil Rights Movement.View Collection about Eyes on the Prize -
Collection William Miles Collection
William Miles was a documentary filmmaker whose work highlighted stories of African American achievements in the military, the arts, sports,...View Collection about William Miles Collection -
Collection Henry Raleigh Collection
The Henry Raleigh collection includes original artwork and published materials dating from 1910-1940.View Collection about Henry Raleigh Collection -
Collection Louis & Jodi Atkin Family Collection
The Louis and Jodi Atkin Family Collection consists of World War I memorabilia and over 400 recruitment and propaganda posters.View Collection about Louis & Jodi Atkin Family Collection -
Collection John Held Jr. Collection
The John Held Jr. Collection consists mostly of correspondence from later in Held's career, covering a sizable gap in biographical...View Collection about John Held Jr. Collection -
Collection Pokenia Comic Strip Collection
The Pokenia comic strip was created by Spencer Thronton Banks and ran throughout the 1940s.View Collection about Pokenia Comic Strip Collection -
Collection Ink Tank Archive
The collection includes original artwork and published materials by the artists of The Ink Tank Archive, founded in 1978 by...View Collection about Ink Tank Archive -
Collection Center for the Humanities Comics Collection
The Center for the Humanities Comics Collection is mainly comprised of comic books, periodicals, pulp magazines, and graphic novels.View Collection about Center for the Humanities Comics 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.