The University of Washington Library began collecting historical materials as early as 1905 when the catalog listed a "University History" section. In 1919 the purchase of Clarence Booth Bagley's collection of Northwest Americana helped establish what would become the Manuscript collection. Additions to the Collection were contributed regularly through the close collaboration of Bagley, historian Edmond S. Meany, and librarian Charles Wesley Smith. File indexes were added to the collection in the 1930s and 1940s, including a Regional Index of Newspapers and a Human Relations Area Files in 1948.
Large collections continued to come into the Library through the 1930s to the 1950s. In 1958 a Manuscripts section of the Library was formally established, previously having been administered by the Reference Division. In 1961 the Northwest Collection, the Manuscripts Collection, and Rare Books and Special Collections comprised the units of Special Collections. Shortly thereafter collecting areas expanded into photographs, architectural drawings, newspapers, and microforms. Until 1966 many of the Manuscripts collections focused on Northwest businesses, such as forest industries and coal as well as conservation efforts.
The 1964 Annual Report for Special Collections notes "it has been noted that President Odegaard makes frequent reference to the "University Archives" as if there were a specific agency in which materials and memorabilia relating to the history of the University is housed." University Archives was formally established in 1967 under the new University Archives and Manuscripts Division. Prior to this, archival materials were collected under Manuscripts and the Northwest Collection. The new University Archives and Manuscripts Division was also separated for the first time from the Special Collections Division, which still included the Northwest Collection, Rare Books, photographs, maps, and drawings. By the 1980s Special Collections also housed a Preservation unit.
By the early 2000s the two sides, Special Collections and Manuscripts and University Archives, had been brought back together under the Special Collections Division.
Organized into 65 accessions.
Correspondence, exhibit materials, donor files, project files, manuals, training documents, committee files, subject files, reference requests, audio duplication CDs, and other materials related to the Special Collections division.
Some records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Public records, but advance notice is required to allow for screening of materials protected from disclosure by law. Please contact Special Collections for more information.
Some records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.
Public Records; not subject to copyright. Copying, quotation, publication and other uses are unrestricted if records are open for public release.
Print for the "Vistas of Green: the Olmsted Legacy in the University Neighborhood" exhibit curated by the MSCUA Division and on display between May 1 and August 29, 2003 in the Suzzallo Library Exhibition Room
Files primarily document Karyl Winn's tenure as Head of Manuscripts and University Archives Division. Winn retired from the University of Washington Libraries in 2004
Files of the Curator of Manuscripts.
Inventory Work Files, 10 years; Box 1: A - Holman, Box 2: Houghton - Port *; Box 3: Pratt - Workingmen*
Note: * indicates that box contents were redistributed to accommodate interfiling of inventories received June 2, 1975 per attached listing.
Several exhibits were remounted with slight or substantial changes at later dates (Japanese evacuation, WGM, Scandinavian, and Notable Washingtonians). The WGM exhibit was remounted in the State reception room in Olympia on 4 tables in 1984. Collection Development exhibit (1984) was prepared by retiring Division Head Richard Berner, who did not prepare layout diagrams.
Box 1: Materials from the Richard Hugo Exhibit (1986); Materials from the 125th Anniversary of the University of Washington Exhibit (1986).
Exhibit "A Legacy of Public Service" was formally opened at a reception on May 20, 1987. This large exhibit of 24 panels (later, with additional flat cases) documented the careers of Warren G. Magnuson and Henry M. Jackson.
Contents of "Finding Aids" case for the exhibit "A Legacy of Public Service," prepared in 1987. Includes a sketch of the case, photographs mounted on heavy board, mounted captions, dummy audiotapes, videotapes, and microfilm, dummy file folders, indexes. One ring binder containing a real copy of the inventory to Jackson accession #3560-3 has been removed and returned to the MSS Section reference shelf.
The accession consists of the records of the Association of College and Research Libraries meetings in Minneapolis, MN in 1981 and Seattle, WA in 1984.
Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.
Files of Karyl Winn, Manuscripts Librarian, 1970-75, 1977+; Division Head, 1985+. Also files of the Division's Congressional Papers Project, 1984-87.
Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.
Virtually all are files of Richard Berner as Division Head but some reports are from his early career as Curator of Manuscripts.
Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.
Coordinators represented include Howard Droker, Julia Eulenberg, and Isabel Stusser. These files were retired after Stusser's resignation.
Exhibit "A Century of Scholarship" honored the faculty of the University of Washington during its first hundred years 1889-1989. Ten individuals were selected as representative of thousands of faculty members who have played a role in the success of the University.
Donor files of Karyl Winn, Head of Manuscripts and University Archives division. Most subject files deal with storage and space planning.
Box 1: Records from University Archives; Box 2: Records from the Manuscripts Division
MSS Librarian/Division head's files. Also project administration files for Melville Jacobs Collection 1973-1983.
A&D charts commenced as electonic files beginning around 2008.
Materials stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Records stored off-site; advance notice required for use.
Records stored off-site; advance notice required for use.
Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Handle award with gloves