Collection Curiosities: Strange and Unlikely Items in the Archives
This selection of curiosities and odd holdings from Special Collections highlights the variety of materials available in the archives and the rest of the University of Arkansas Libraries.
University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections presents Collection Curiosities, a celebration of all things strange yet compelling in our archives. These oddities represent a rarity in the collections: the three-dimensional object. While the majority of archival manuscript and book collections center on the written word, the items in this exhibit can largely be categorized as visually-centered and a bit eccentric to boot. The inclusion of materials such as these serves to enrich individual manuscript collections and the libraries' holdings in general.
Items included showcase quirky and inventive personalities, exceptional adventures (such as in the Ellsworth Family Papers, MC 1162), and compelling relics from centuries past. Their collective presentation is intended to challenge notions about archival materials and inspire viewers to investigate the narratives of the past that are discovered every day in Special Collections. To learn more about these items visit the Special Collections Department.
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