Spring 2024

Special Collections materials will be available for use in the Kislak Center reading room by appointment only Monday through Friday until further notice. Please use the following link to book an appointment at least seven days prior to your visit and request the Special Collections materials to be consulted via our AEON system. To confirm that we have received your request and if you have any questions about your visit, please email asc.library@miami.edu.

In order to assist patrons who are unable to visit in person we maintain a list of University of Miami proxy researchers. If you are interested in proxy research assistance please email asc.library@miami.edu. All research arrangements are strictly between the patron and the proxy.

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UML is now accepting submissions for a new archive project.

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Who we are and what we hold

The Department of Special Collections is home to a wide array of rare books, manuscripts, archival collections, photographs and audio-visual items, maps, architectural drawings, artists’ books, zines, photographic collections, and other research materials that document the history of Florida, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and beyond.

All of the materials held in Special Collections, from 15th century books to 21st century restaurant menus, are open to use by the public as well as the University Community. Special Collections is dedicated to supporting research and teaching using the collections and actively acquires new materials to create a fuller historical record.

We are also the home to the new Jay I. Kislak Collection of the Early Americas, Exploration, and Navigation, a renown gathering of maps, books, artefacts, artwork, and ephemera documenting the history of the Western Hemisphere, including the North and South Poles.

Deep Dives

This online series of webinars offer an informative, enticing, and educational look into a selection of images that are representative of materials in Special Collections.

Selling Some Sand: The Marketing of Miami Beach

 

Miami in a Coco Nut, 1923 Helen C. Purdy Florida Collection
Digitized materials provide collection access to interested researchers around the world. Materials in the Helen C. Purdy Florida collection reflect the rich history of Florida and include fantastic examples of early Miami promotional material.
Rooster paper cut

Strutting about, this Rooster is made of paper cut in the traditional Polish wycinanki style. Examples abound in Cutting Paper, by Claudia Cohen and Barbara Hodgson, Heavenly Monkey Editions, 2013, part of our Artists' Book collection.

Enter the world of rare and one-of-a-kind books
Special collections over 1000 fascinating artists’ books
We have a growing collection of historical board games
Learn more about the fascinating history of the printed word
Explore over 600 archival collections