Special Collections holds the library's rare books and archival collections
, including the papers of U.S. Senator (1961-1985), John G. Tower. Over 4000 works were printed before 1900, the earliest of which is a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible.
Special Collections has a number of Pre-Columbian art objects from its Zallas collection, as well as codices, maps, and fascimiles relating to Mesoamerican art, culture, and history.
To view these objects and learn more about them, please consult Head of Special Collections and Archives, Megan Firestone. Her office is currently on the 1st floor of the Smith Library Center. They have shorter hours of operation than other library departments, so pay close attention to their visiting policies to ensure you get the most out of your experience there.
If you are interested in writing your paper on one of these objects, be sure to check with Special Collections staff about its authenticity. Some of the statues are modern replicas for the tourist trade, while others are legitimately from antiquity.
The image above is a statue from the Zallas Collection, held at Special Collections at the Smith Library Center. The image is courtesy of Special Collections.
