Book Collections

Book Collections

Special Collections Book Collections

Special Collections and College Archives preserves books as artifacts and each volume helps us illustrate the history of reading across cultures and centuries. We care for approximately 25,000 unique and rare editions of titles from all publishing eras. Books may come to us for various reasons. They may be: first editions - significant to the history of the College - examples of fine, decorative bindings - signed by the authors or illustrators - or are just plain cool! Most of our titles can be found in MUSCAT Plus. Please search from the Special Collections webpage under "Search and Browse."


We continually add titles to our Subject and Format Collections:

  • Civil War
  • Folio
  • Gettysburgiana
  • Oversize
  • Pennsylvaniana
  • Rare
  • Special Collections Books
  • Special Collections Offsite
  • Special Collections Rare Storage

We also have book collections donated by individuals. When collections contain more than 250 titles, books will include a bookplate attributed to the donor:
  • Alger Collection
  • Cooper Collection
  • Hardinge Collection
  • Harper Collection
  • Kaltreider Collection
  • Mencken Collection
  • Rogers Collection
  • Ryder Collection
  • Wright Collection