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Skip to Main ContentSpecial Collections holds more than 11,000 linear feet of a diverse array of literary and historical manuscripts, personal papers, and college archives. This page offers resources and step-by-step instructions to help you navigate these vast archival collections. If you have questions along the way, please Ask Special Collections.
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Archives are vibrant places where the first-hand materials of human history are actively collected, preserved, managed, and made accessible. The word "archives" can refer to collections of historical records, the place where they are stored and used, or the organization responsible for them. In under three minutes, learn more about different types of archives, what archivists do, who can use archives, what is missing from them, and why they are valuable.
A finding aid is a guide to an archival collection. It provides basic information about what a collection contains and how it is organized. This brief "Introduction to a Finding Aid" video will introduce you to a finding aid and how to use one.