The Division has three principle charges or responsibilities: 1) Develop unique and/or special research collections of rare or other material in designated subject areas; 2) House and preserve library materials which require special custodial care and/or supervised use; 3) Provide access to materials within the guidelines regulating their use.
Development and implementation of collection policy for the Special Collections Division is the responsibility of the Head of Special Collections, in consultation with the Head of Collections Management. Within the guidelines of Special Collections policy, selectors from any department of the Libraries may be designated to participate in development of collections, under the direction of the Head of Special Collections.
With the approval of the Head of Special Collections, materials acquired by any subject selector in the pursuit of his/her collection development responsibility may be destined to Special Collections if rarity or other considerations dictate preservation in the original format. All pre-1801 imprints. U.S. imprints through 1830, trans-Mississippi imprints through 1850, first or signed editions by notable authors or others collected in Special Collections, editions under 500 copies should be referred to the Special Collections librarian for evaluation. Fine examples of bindings, period bindings, unusual bindings and works with original art or photographs pasted in, erotica or other illustrative material limited in number or likely to be mutilated should also be considered.
After achieving university status in 1955, the Libraries acquired a number of outstanding rare book collections. These include the French Monarchy Collection, the German Criminology Collection, the Italian Risorgimento Collection, and a strong collection of eighteenth century British materials. There are significant collections of literary first editions of writers of the Irish Literary Renaissance, a number of American expatriate writers of the Twentieth Century, and selected American and English writers over the past two centuries. The written work of Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges is represented as well. American small press poetry; early travel literature, particularly accounts of European travelers in Africa and North America; and the Canadian Northwest are all considered important collections.
Most recently all the literary works of distinguish MSU writers have been collected. These writers include Richard Ford, Tom McGuane, Jim Harrison, Dan Gerber, Carolyn Forché and Diane Wakoski among others.
2. There are a number of several outstanding special libraries and collections in Michigan. Currently there are no formal co-operative agreements among these libraries.
An outstanding collection of some 1,200 manuscripts and printed works to 1900 Currently the subject of a comprehensive catalog to be published by the MSU Press.
Level: 4
2. University Authors
Over the past several decades a number of important literary writers have graduated from or been faculty members at MSU. While the list is always growing the works of the following authors are collected.
Richard Ford
Dan Gerber
Lev Raphael
Jim Harrison
Gary Gildner
William Penn
Thomas McGuane
Lee Upton
Hugh Fox
Diane Wakoski
William Barnhardt
F. Richard Thomas
Carolyn Forché
Marcus Cafanga
Level: 5
3. The Charles and Ruth Schmitter Fencing Collection
A distinguished collection of fencing, dueling, arms and armor, and related subjects donated by the Schmitters. Collecting will focus on early material (pre- 1900) in all languages with an emphasis on very early fencing/dueling works (pre-1700). A recently created endowment fund will help acquiring material.
Fencing/Dueling books that include horsemanship will also be preferred as a complement to veterinary medicine.
Level:4
4. Gastronomy/Cookery
a. Early English and American Cookbooks (pre-1900)
While most ofthe important titles in this area are already held. several gaps exist. First editions preferred to fill these holes. Collecting may include herbals, dietary works, kitchen gardening. beer making.
Collect intensively eighteenth-century English and American cookery manuscripts.
b. African-American Cookery
Collect available cookbook titles in any edition or time period which Feature influence of African food on world cuisines. Areas include African-American, Caribbean, Brazilian, and African cookbooks.
c. Jewish/Kosher Cookery
Collect available cookbook titles in any edition or time period which exhibit influence of Jewish food culture on international cuisines.
d. Unusual Cookery
The odd or unusual cookbook in any edition or time period. The emphasis is twentieth-century American, but not exclusively.
Level : 4 for all designated cookery fields.
The Beatrice V. Grant Endowment Fund is available for cookbook acquisitions.
5. Early Agriculture
Collect primarily English and American Agricultural works to 1850. First editions preferred, but not required. Special attention for works that include gardening and domestic arts to complement cookery and veterinary medicine. Emphasis also on apiculture, grasses. farm management, forestry/and husbandry.
Level: 3
6. Modern American Fiction
Collect the occasional "high spot" of current American fiction. First editions only of fiction printed since 1960.
The collection serves to complement the University Authors Collection.
Level: 2
7. Eighteenth-century British Studies
Collect courtesy (advice) books from the long eighteenth century. Any edition, for male or female acceptable.
Collect Johnsonian literary circle titles in any edition.
Level:2
8. Fine Printing/Book Arts
Collect all available productions by Laura Davidson, a Cambridge, book artist who attended MSU.
Books produced by fine, small printing houses can be acquired through University Authors collection. Collect all fine printings by these authors.
Level: 5
9. Manuscripts and Archives
a. University Authors Where possible collect the manuscript collections of designated writers in this area. Major acquisitions of material may be necessary. Comprehensive.
b. Collect manuscript and archival collections that complement and support existing print collections, especially Africana, Radicalism, Popular Culture. Veterinary Medicine, and Comic Art. Selective.
c. Collect individual manuscripts in veterinary medicine and cookery. Eighteenth century manuscripts preferred. Selective.
Archival and Manuscript gifts may be accepted on a case by case basis with strong emphasis on importance to collections and curriculum.
Funding for rare book special treatment is only adequate. A new endowment for preservation, the Carter Harrison Endowment, will help.
Boxes and minor repairs are handled by a capable in-house preservation office. Digital conversion of at risk material is of major importance. Steps need to begin at once to establish a digital text office with strong ties to Special Collections materials.
Books which have been identified as duplicates may be sold with proceeds going to the Special Collections Endowment.
Collection Development Statements for the Special Collections Division:
Divisional Statement | American Radicalism | Cookery Collection | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Materials | Popular Culture | Comic Books and Strips