Special Collections and Archives What do they have there and how do I find what I want?

What Can I find there? Four types of materials: Four types of materials: 1.University Archives 2.Manuscript Collections 3.Pennsylvania Collections 4.Rare books

Guidelines for Using Collections Collections do not circulate. Collections do not circulate. All materials in Special Collections are to be used in the Reading Room located in Stapleton Library, Room 302. All materials in Special Collections are to be used in the Reading Room located in Stapleton Library, Room 302. Duplication services are available. Duplication services are available. Please contact Special Collections at or or for assistance. Please contact Special Collections at or or for

1. University Archives University Archives is the repository for non-current, inactive official university records that have sufficient value to warrant their permanent preservation. University Archives is the repository for non-current, inactive official university records that have sufficient value to warrant their permanent preservation.

–May include:  Yearbooks, catalogs, photographs  Office papers, correspondence, forms  Bound record books, films  Sound recordings, maps, blueprints  Machine-readable material, or other document,  Anything made by or received by any University office

University Archives Finding aids: Finding aids: –Record Groups, Digital collections continue to grow and include: Digital collections continue to grow and include: –Digital Projects, Images, IUP Publications, and much more, –IUP Libraries Digital Collections,

2. Manuscript Collections Includes unpublished papers of individuals, companies, and associations. Includes unpublished papers of individuals, companies, and associations. Unique materials that supplement and support research by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and private scholars. Unique materials that supplement and support research by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and private scholars. Materials that document the history of the region and materials in business, industry and labor related to the coal, iron and steel and transportation industries. Materials that document the history of the region and materials in business, industry and labor related to the coal, iron and steel and transportation industries. –Examples:  Papers of Irwin Marcus or Civil War Soldiers  Papers of the United Mine Workers locals or R & P Coal

Finding Manuscript Collections Finding Aids -- Manuscript Collections, Finding Aids -- Manuscript Collections, Digital Collections – Digital Collections – –Digital Projects and Exhibits, –IUP Libraries Digital Collections,

3. Pennsylvania Collection Books that document the history of Pennsylvania Books that document the history of Pennsylvania –Check Pilot –Location will be Special Collections

3. Rare Books Includes valuable and unique materials owned by the library. Includes valuable and unique materials owned by the library. –Old books –Unusual books English and American Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries English and American Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries Search the IUP Libraries on-line catalog, bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First Search the IUP Libraries on-line catalog, bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=First

Rare Books… Editions limited to under 250 copies Editions limited to under 250 copies Works printed prior to 1799 for European works and prior to 1825 for American works Works printed prior to 1799 for European works and prior to 1825 for American works Association works, e.g., items associated with significant or famous individuals, often with autographs. Association works, e.g., items associated with significant or famous individuals, often with autographs. –Such as George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, (1938) which includes notes and corrections to the text made by Orwell.

Rare Books Examples of fine printing or binding, including unique items Examples of fine printing or binding, including unique items Books from notable printing presses Books from notable printing presses

Rare Books Books relating to the Manuscript Collections and/or the University Archives, e.g., De Re Metallica, the first publication devoted to scientific mining practices which is a strong complement to the Industrial Manuscripts Collections. Books relating to the Manuscript Collections and/or the University Archives, e.g., De Re Metallica, the first publication devoted to scientific mining practices which is a strong complement to the Industrial Manuscripts Collections.

First Editions First Editions Various individual titles, including works by the following authors: Various individual titles, including works by the following authors: Herman Melville James McNeill Whistler Norman Mailer George Orwell Washington Irving Margaret Atwood Lydia Sigourney John Greenleaf Whittier Henry David Thoreau James Joyce Edward Abbey Herman Melville James McNeill Whistler Norman Mailer George Orwell Washington Irving Margaret Atwood Lydia Sigourney John Greenleaf Whittier Henry David Thoreau James Joyce Edward Abbey

How do I find them? –Check Pilot –Location will be Special Collections

Requesting and Using Published Material From Special Collections  Rare books and Pennsylvania Books are published materials  Get the call number  Fill out request form  Material will be brought to you  You must use them in special collections reading room

Requesting and Using Archives and Manuscript Materials Much of the material found in Special Collections and Archives has not been published formally or widely distributed Much of the material found in Special Collections and Archives has not been published formally or widely distributed Often raw data or primary sources including: Often raw data or primary sources including:  diaries, letters and personal papers, organization records, company records, newspapers, oral histories, photographs, artifacts, broadsides and publications.

Do you really need these? Manuscript sources are not the best places to begin research Manuscript sources are not the best places to begin research –Declaration of Independence might not mean much if you didn’t know the context –Letters mean much more if you understand the background of who wrote them, who they were written to, the time period and place where they were written

Do You Really Need Manuscript or Archival Material? Good idea to begin with secondary sources Good idea to begin with secondary sources –For example if you are looking for history of the University you check published histories before go trying to look through 130 years of University catalogs, newspapers, and photographs –Read a history of the United Mine Workers or the labor movement before you try to look through the papers

When Do You Need Manuscript Collections? When you already have background and historical context for the topic When you already have background and historical context for the topic Have exhausted secondary sources and no published materials exist Have exhausted secondary sources and no published materials exist

How are things organized? Because archival materials have not been published they are organized in a special way Because archival materials have not been published they are organized in a special way

Archivists analyze and describe collections in order to inform researchers: Archivists analyze and describe collections in order to inform researchers: – of their contents –documentary value –access restrictions –and arrangement

Archivists create descriptions and list the contents of a collection in documents called finding aids. Archivists create descriptions and list the contents of a collection in documents called finding aids. A finding aid may be a summary of the collection, an inventory, or a list of record folder titles and may take the form of a printed guide or an electronic document A finding aid may be a summary of the collection, an inventory, or a list of record folder titles and may take the form of a printed guide or an electronic document And although they often vary in the level and amount of descriptive information they provide, finding aids typically contain the following components: And although they often vary in the level and amount of descriptive information they provide, finding aids typically contain the following components:

Collection Name Collection Name Collection call number which will begin with: Collection call number which will begin with: –RG –MG Box and folder numbers Box and folder numbers Description of items Description of items

To Request and Use Items Use Search Collections link to find information in our collections Use Search Collections link to find information in our collections Use finding aids to locate information Use finding aids to locate information –University Archives – %20Aids/rgindex.html %20Aids/rgindex.htmlhttp:// %20Aids/rgindex.html –Manuscripts and Collections Fill out request form: Fill out request form: –Generally collections are made up of multiple boxes and folders. To request items you will need:  Collection Name and number  Box and folder numbers

Materials must be used with care in our reading room Materials must be used with care in our reading room For more information on our Special Collections and Archives visit our web page at For more information on our Special Collections and Archives visit our web page at For more information on finding and using archival materials in general and on the Internet go to : archp2.html For more information on finding and using archival materials in general and on the Internet go to : archp2.html archp2.html archp2.html