Special Collections: Home

The library has specialized resources for research in various disciplines, described below. Access to these collections may be arranged by contacting a librarian.

Jane Conrad Apple Rare Books Room Collection

This collection, housed in the elegantly appointed Jane Conrad Apple Rare Books Room on the second level, focuses on the life and works of William Shakespeare and the Elizabethan and Tudor periods. The collection includes a number of first and limited editions as well as rare books from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, including works by Chaucer, Donne and Richard Hooker. The collection also contains manuscripts, musical scores, theater programs and hand-made, letter-press books of poetry.  Some of these books can be borrowed. 

Search for these items in the library's catalog and select the Location:  Apple Rare Books Room

Nancy Cairns Collection of French Language and Literature

This collection, established from the library of Nancy Cairns, former Professor of French, includes several hundred volumes of French literature. Several rare early editions of French political and literary works are contained in this collection, including works by Agrippa d'Aubigné, Étienne Pasquier, and Madeleine-Angélique de Gomez,  housed in the Jane Conrad Apple Rare Books Room.  

Search for these items in the library's catalog and select the Location:  Nancy Cairns

Russell Gilbert Pennsylvania German Collection

This collection offers rich resources in Pennsylvania German Language, Literature, and History. Based on a gift from former Professor of German Russell Gilbert, the collection continues to grow by the addition of donor gifts and other acquisitions. The collection is housed in the Pennsylvania Room that features a beautiful fan-window overlooking University Avenue.