About Special Collections At Yale

Yale's special collections offer unparalleled riches. They include written matter of every kind (from books, manuscripts, and ancient clay tablets to unique prints, posters, and even greeting cards), but they also go before and beyond the written word in many ways. Maps, photographs, sound and video recordings, music scores, art works, coins, and other items of great cultural and historical importance await the interested researcher. Set in the context of extraordinary collections of journals, monographs, and reference works, these treasures represent Yale's intense commitment to preserve and know the human past on every continent and in every age of history. The collections continue to grow in size and diversity, supported by the creativity of Yale's people and the generosity of Yale's friends around the world.

Faculty, students, and other researchers are strongly encouraged to explore, study, and use these materials in their work. Staff are delighted to help users come to know these collections, find what may be of interest or use, and facilitate access in whatever way possible. For reasons of security and care for the materials, special collections are often available for access under controlled conditions. Materials are carefully collected, arranged, and described according to professional standards, and are preserved in environmentally-controlled, secure, closed storage areas.

These pages provide an overview of the various special collections at Yale, information about events and exhibits related to these collections, and tips on accessing materials.

Please direct any questions to the Yale Library Special Collections Committee