About the Special Collections Department

The Special Collections Department acquires, preserves, and provides access to rare and unique scholarly resources. Officially founded in 1978, the Special Collections Department serves as a scholarly resource for students, faculty, and staff of the University of Miami, and local, regional, national, and international scholars and researchers.

The Special Collections Department houses an outstanding array of scholarly resources including collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, prints, broadsides, posters, audio-visual materials, newspapers and journals, and other research materials.

The Special Collections Department now maintains approximately 50,000 rare books and publications; 500 manuscript and archival collections (representing 10,500 linear feet of materials); 100,000 photographs; 5,000 maps; and 2,000 architectural drawings to support the teaching and research interests of faculty and students.