University of Washington Special Collections -- Pacific Northwest Portal --

Special Collections Division

"The Special Collections Division is the Libraries' major resource for rare and archival materials covering a broad range of topics, formats, and periods. Research strengths include the history of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Western Canada; architecture; book arts; 19th century American literature; photography; and historical children's literature. Special Collections also houses the official Archives of the University of Washington."

The University of Washington Special Collections Division houses an extensive array of materials and resources on virtually every aspect of the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest.

Pacific Northwest Collection of books, serials, pamphlets, maps, and printed ephemera, covers a range of topics and interests of importance to affiliate states in the Pacific Northwest region, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, Alaska, British Columbia, and western Alberta. Extensive manuscript and archival collections encompass both organizational records and personal papers, including the papers of several prominent politicial leaders, as well as a diverse number of advocacy groups and business, professional, and community organizations, focusing mostly on the Puget Sound region and western Washington. The Visual Materials collections include photographs, postcards, architectural records, a moving images collection, and other pictorial representations of the region and its peoples, while the University Archives houses historical records of the University of Washington, including university records, faculty papers, university publications, and the records of student life and alumni.

Researchers should consult the Special Collection's Division's website for current information about Reading Room hours, links to the online catalog and other databases and lists which describe holdings, and other information about access to and use of the collections. For further information, please contact the Division directly.