About
In brief
Special Collections brings together the University of Washington Libraries' most rare and unique resources. From papyrus to born-digital, our holdings span history and the globe, and offer boundless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Students, faculty, and visitors are invited to examine manuscripts, printed works, artists' books, photographs, maps, and other materials in the protected environment of the Special Collections reading room. Our digital collections are available on the web.
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism
We believe that the histories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are essential. We acknowledge that University of Washington Special Collections contributes to an institutional legacy of collecting bias, acquiring harmful collections, and using offensive language to describe our resources. We also acknowledge structural issues with public services and personnel that perpetuate systemic discrimination and cultural bias. We are actively working to address this legacy.
We are committed to combating institutionalized racism by supporting the preservation of the histories of underrepresented communities at UW and in the Pacific Northwest. We commit to examine our own practices continually and share our progress on this work. We endeavor to ensure that these histories are appropriately represented and cared for in Special Collections. (Statement updated: 20 July 2021)
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities
We welcome volunteers and interns to assist us in our work. If you are interested in learning more about opportunities available in Special Collections please fill out the form below and we will be in contact.
UW Special Collections Volunteer Opportunities
Annual Report
Current Exhibit
The exhibit is available to be viewed from 10 AM - 12 PM and 1 PM - 4:45 PM Monday through Friday, with late hours from 6 PM - 7:45 PM on Wednesdays.
"The city is redundant: it repeats itself so that something will stick in the mind.
Memory is reduntant: it repeats signs so that the city can begin to exist."
-Italo Calvino, Invisible Cities
The Univeristy of Washington Libraries invits you to view our exhibit, Invisible Cities: The Prints of Giovanni Battista Piranesi and the Art of the Built Environment. In the exhibit, you will see a selection of the library's extensive collection of Piranesi prints accompanied by archival drawings and current student and faculty work in the College of Built Environments. We will be exploring themes of cultural memory and art in the depictions of inhabited spaces and invisible environments in the practice of recording, learning, and remembering. Come see this history unfold. #UWInvisibleCities
Staff
- John Bolcer
University Archivist
jdbolcer@uw.edu | 206-685-2352 - Conor M. Casey
Head, Labor Archives
cmcasey@uw.edu | 206-685-3976 - Kelly Daviduke
Architectural Drawings Collection Research Archivist
vellum@uw.edu | 206-685-4480 - Marchette Dubois
Fiscal Specilaist
xee@uw.edu | 206-543-7610 - Anne Jenner
Pacific Northwest Curator
ajenner@uw.edu | 206-685-2856 - Sandra Kroupa
Book Arts and Rare Books Curator
skroupa@uw.edu |206-685-3248 - Ann Lally
Digital Collections Curator
alally@uw.edu | 206-685-1473 - Kat Lewis
Assistant Book Arts and Rare Books Librarian
katl@uw.edu | 206-543-6155 - Allee Monheim
Public Service Librarian
amonheim@uw.edu | 206-543-3859 - Lisa Oberg
Interim Director / History of Science and Medicine Curator
lisanne@uw.edu | 206-543-7492 - Jana Peterson
Support Technician
jpete@uw.edu | 206-543-1929 - Amy Pierce
Processing and Monographic Receiving Specialist
apx@uw.edu | 206-543-1929 - Ruba Sadi
Public Services Coordinator
rubasadi@uw.edu | 206-685-2127 - James Stack
Reference Specialist and Indexer
jbstack@uw.edu | 206-685-4424