The  mission of the Special Collections Department is to support the research, teaching, and learning mission of the University of Arkansas by collecting, preserving, and providing access to unique and rare materials. Part of that work entails adding to our collections through donation, and occasionally through purchase. 

The collections we steward document the human experience through a variety of perspectives. Manuscript collections, which consist primarily of unpublished works, document creators’ lives, businesses, and legacies through letters, photographs, reports, writings, and more. In addition to manuscripts, the Department has an extensive rare book collection and an expanding university archives. Our collections are varied and the items on exhibit speak to such variety. 

Ranging from an Eleanor Roosevelt letter, to posters from the Ozark StageWorks theater group, to papers documenting the career of former U of A faculty member Dr. Albert Einert, and a special edition of Frank Stanford’s poetry titled Hidden Water, the materials on exhibit can be used to learn about a variety of topics -- both those that document Arkansas history, and those that are part of national and international stories. The items on display represent but a few of our recent acquisitions, and we hope they invite you to visit us and further explore these collections and topics.