Special Collections

Overview

• Special Collections consist primarily of rare and special printed materials that hold long term, historical research potential for UWSP academic programs. The collections support a broad range of research and teaching activities in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
• The materials in these collections are available for research in the Archives & Area Research Center Reading Room, subject to rules of use.
• Materials do not circulate and are available to patrons who have legitimate research interests.

Assassination Collection

• The assassination archive was created by a member of the UWSP History Department, Professor David R. Wrone, with major contributions from James and Jenifer White and Harold Weisberg.
• The emphasis of the collection is the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
• It also includes smaller collections on the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.
• A portion of the archive donated by James and Jenifer White appears to be photocopies of the Harold Weisberg Archive Digital Collection created by Hood College.

Harold Weisberg Collection, 1922-1981

• In addition to the assassination component of the collection, Harold Weisberg collected a wide variety of material covering political movements including nationalism, communism, anti-communism, anti-Semitism, British imperialism, Nazism, and fascism. The scope of his collecting included organizations and people based in a number of countries including the United States and Germany.
• Two highlights of the collection are the House Un-American Activities Committee (Dies Committee) component and the American labor movement component.

Rare Books

• The library's rare book collection includes printed materials which for reasons of rarity, value, age, content, or special physical characteristics require special handling.
• They are listed in the library's online catalog with the location note, "Rare Books."
• Rare Books Collection Development Policy

Rules for Using Special Collections and Archival Material

Because these materials are rare or unique, the stacks are closed to researchers. The collections are available for research in the Reading Room, subject to the following rules:

1. Collections do not circulate and must be used in the Reading Room, Monday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - noon and 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
2. Researchers must sign the register providing name, address, and phone number each day before beginning research in the Reading Room.
3. USE PENCILS ONLY. No pens or highlighters are permitted at the reading room tables. Laptop computers, cameras, digital cameras, and tape recorders may be used with staff permission.
4. Food and beverages are not permitted in the Reading Room.
5. All containers and personal effects not required for research, including briefcases, bags, backpacks, laptop cases, umbrellas, coats, and purses, must be placed in the lockers or on the coat rack before beginning your research.
6. Researchers are permitted to use one item at a time. Exceptions may be made by the person on duty if appropriate.
7. Materials must be handled carefully.
   1. All materials must be used flat on the table.
   2. Do not mark or remove marks from the materials.
   3. Do not open uncut pages.
   4. No books, papers, or other objects (except the special weights available to hold books open) may be laid on materials.
   5. Maintain the original order of foldered archival documents.
   6. Please report to the staff any errors in cataloging or other concerns about the materials.
8. All inquiries concerning reproductions must be referred to staff.
   1. Approval of photocopy or scanning requests will be made on a case-by-case basis.
   2. Photography and the use of personal copying equipment are only permitted with the approval of staff.
   3. Please inform the staff if you intend to reproduce images from materials for use in publication. It is the responsibility of the researcher to seek permission from the copyright holder to reproduce for publication.
9. When you finish using material, please inform the staff person on duty. Please inform them whether you will use it again during the next one to two weeks.