Special Collections and University Archives, Wichita State University Libraries
Ablah Library, Lower Level, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, Kansas 67260-0068
Phone: (316) 978-3590
Fax: (316) 978-5318
Email: specialcollections@wichita.edu
Web Address: http://specialcollections.wichita.edu
Mission Statement
Special Collections and University Archives is the department within Wichita State University Libraries that acquires, arranges, preserves, and makes available to the public rare books, manuscripts, university records, photographs and other images, and Kansas maps and atlases. Its purpose is to enhance Wichita State University Libraries’ general collection, support the research and teaching programs of Wichita State University, and provide opportunities for research to the people of Wichita and Kansas and to the research community at large.
Research
Special Collections and University Archives provides online finding aids to more than 500 manuscript collections covering social, political, economic and intellectual aspects of local, state, regional and national history, including slavery and its abolition, aviation, the U.S. Civil War, selected writers, poets and artists from Kansas, especially those with ties to Wichita, and the largest collection in the state of the Federal Writers’ Project Records for Kansas. The collection also houses a nationally recognized map collection, images documenting Kansas and the region, university records, and rare books and artifacts from Europe, North America and Asia that span the early modern, modern, and contemporary periods.
Education/Outreach
Special Collections and University Archives maintains strong ties to the local and regional communities through cultural programs showcasing its collections and instructional sessions in the use of primary sources and other archival materials presented to school and community groups. The archive also collaborates in other digital initiatives, including the Wichita Photo Archives and Western Trails.
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Researchers from outside the Wichita area are requested to make appointments at least 24 hours in advance to use materials held by Special Collections and University Archives. Making arrangements in advance ensures that staff will be available to provide assistance and retrieve materials efficiently.
