Our collections span a range of subjects and include printed, manuscript, audio, and visual material including books, letters, diaries, photographs, personal and business records, architectural drawings, maps, and more. For more information about how and what we collect, consult our collection development policy and see recent additions on our New Books page. Information on University of Rochester history and records is available in the University Archives. To learn more about who we are and our expertise, check out our staff page.
This video gives you an overview of the collections held by the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation. It includes an overview of our collection areas of strength, the types of material we collect, and the collections for which we are the most well-known.
Access policy
Although it is not required, we suggest that researchers make an appointment and complete an online registration form prior to their visit. Researchers are allowed to bring laptops, phones, cameras, chargers, pencils, and loose paper into the Reading Room. All other personal items must be left in one of our lockers.
Our collections
A-Z Manuscript Collections - Detailed information and finding aids for each of our manuscript collections, sorted alphabetically
Search Our Collections - Use this search box to search for manuscript collections, digital collections, and much more.
