The special collections were formed in 1983 with the establishment of the Research Institute. Materials include rare books, prints and drawings, photographs, archives, manuscripts, and 20th-century audio and visual media such as films and recordings. A dynamic program of collection development currently focuses on the traditions of art history in Europe, the Mediterranean, Latin America, and areas of European colonization. Recent acquisitions initiatives have incorporated Asian art and its reception in the west and documentation of Southern California's artists, museums, and collections in the latter part of the 20th century. The juxtaposition of historical collections that relate to one another in provocative ways is intended to inspire new directions in scholarship based on the study of original documents and primary sources.
The Research Library Catalog provides access to all materials in the general library and special collections. Detailed catalog descriptions supply information on the collections' contents. In some cases Special Collections Finding Aids offer comprehensive inventories, providing names of all persons and lists of items in the collections.
Researchers who qualify as stack readers may consult the special collections in the special collections reading room. Materials are paged daily, however, space is limited and prior reservations are encouraged. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Materials in Research Library collections are available for study. For appointments and reference assistance contact Library Reference.
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