Special Collections
Closed (Christmas Day)
Location Information
Entrance:
Closest entrance is the Suzzallo ground floor entrance with paddle entry. Elevator access to Allen South basement.
Accessible Bathroom:
Accessible bathrooms located in the Special Collections area. Must check in at the service desk.
Barriers:
None noted.
Assistive Technology:
Available on Student Computers (require UW NetID) and Guest Research Workstations.
Closed (Christmas Day)
About Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries’ Special Collections collects, preserves and makes accessible rare books, manuscripts, papers, records, photographs, moving images and architectural drawings.
Appointments are strongly encouraged, make yours today!
Walk-ins welcome for easily retrievable materials.
All users must create an account in the Special Collections Request System to use Special Collections’ materials. The account is free and online, and only takes a few moments to set up! After completing your account setup, you can make appointments and request materials.
Collections & Services
Finding Aids (Archives West)
Finding aids are detailed guides to archival and photograph collections, which you can use to identify the material you wish to see.
Researching in Special Collections
Special Collections is open to members of the UW community, visiting scholars, and the general public. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
Digital Collections
These are a good place to start a search as they contain a range of materials, including photographs, books, manuscripts and archives.
Teaching in Special Collections
Special Collections welcomes class visits that incorporate and explore our collections!
Reproductions and Permissions
Special Collections provide a variety of reproduction and permission services to meet researcher’s needs.
Current Events & Exhibits
Be sure to visit all of our exhibits and collections.
EXHIBIT: The Mountain is Out: Mount Rainier in Special Collections
Rainier, Tahoma, Nutselip… the mountain is known by many names. A Pacific Northwest icon, Mount Rainier holds a unique place in the region's culture and lore. Its massive peak…
EXHIBIT: Out of Scope: Unexpected Artifacts in Special Collections
Explore unexpected artifacts that have made their way into Special Collections! Cultural organizations such as libraries, museums, and archives rely on a collection development strategy known as ‘scope‘ to shape…
EXHIBIT: Hygge: Winter Cozy
As winter settles in and daylight fades, people across the world find ways to bring warmth and light into the darkest months. In Denmark, this feeling is captured by the…
EXHIBIT: Sentinels of the Sea: Pacific Northwest Lighthouses
Washington State's lighthouses, from the historic Cape Disappointment (first lit in 1856) to the iconic Point No Point and Mukilteo, are vital historical markers guiding ships through rugged coasts, foggy…
Frequently Asked Questions
Special Collections is located in the basement of Allen South Library. From the Allen arcade, enter the Allen South lobby and take the elevator or the stairs one floor down to the Special Collections lobby. View a campus map and a building map.
Consult University of Washington Commuter Services for more information about visitor parking and rates.
Special Collections is open to everyone! Our primary responsibility is to UW students, faculty, and staff, and we may need to put their requests first during the busiest parts of the school year.
After you sign in, you will need to check all of your belongings into a locker. You may keep loose paper, pencils, and laptops and cameras [without cases]. Liquids cannot be stored in lockers unless in spill-proof containers. You can find a more complete list on our Find Special Collections page!
You can search the library catalog to find published materials we hold such as rare books or special book collections.
Online finding aids let you search inventories of archival collections, which contain unpublished materials such as personal papers, institutional records, or scrapbooks.
A small portion of our collections have been digitized and are viewable in our Digital Collections.
For more information, contact Special Collections.
Because our collections are rare, unique, and sometimes fragile, these materials can only be accessed in person in the Special Collections Reading Room or remotely using our Virtual Reading Room.
You can find instructions on ordering copies and requesting permissions on our Reproductions and Permissions page.
We accept donations that fit into our main collecting areas. If you have something you’d like to donate or if you wish to make a monetary gift, feel free to contact us!
The University of Washington Libraries Special Collections staff does not do appraisals. For this, you’ll need to contact a professional appraiser. Here are some places where you can find one:
Support Special Collections
The University of Washington Libraries Special Collections collects, preserves and makes accessible rare books, manuscripts, papers, records, photographs, moving images and architectural drawings. The distinctive holdings of Special Collections have grown through many generous donations of material and monetary contributions from community members, faculty, students, alumni and friends. With your support, we ensure the valuable historical legacies housed in Special Collections remain publicly accessible for generations to come.
Donating Materials
We welcome the opportunity to discuss with you how your materials might enrich the research and teaching resources of Special Collections. Please contact one of our curators to discuss your donation!
Funding Opportunities
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