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About
Special Collections
The Archives and
Special Collections Division of the Brooklyn College Library was established
in 1950.We are committed to acquiring, preserving, and providing access
to the records of enduring value that document the Brooklyn College community.
The department collects both published and unpublished works relating to
the unique cultural, social, and historical development of the Borough
of Brooklyn and its many and varied neighborhoods.
Collection Policy
The Archives' records,
files, and materials include a wide array of sources, such as reports,
studies, memoranda, correspondence, newspapers, photographs, drawings,
paintings, maps, atlases, audiotapes and videorecordings, and memorabilia.
These materials document the growth and development of the institution
and the students, faculty, and administrators associated with it. We rely
upon the transfer of records from the college's academic and administrative
departments and the direct donation of archival materials from alumni,
faculty, and other private donors to build the collections.
The holdings of the
Archives and Special Collections Department are divided into five distinct
and unique collections:
Brooklyn
College Archives,
Brooklyniana
Collection,
Hess
Collections,
Historical
Manuscript Collection
Rare
Book Collection.
Brooklyn
College Archives
These collections
contain the minutes, reports, and files of Brooklyn College's administrative
offices and committees; the records of many academic departments; the collections
of noted alumni and noted faculty; and student materials including newspapers,
yearbooks, course bulletins, fraternity and sorority memorabilia, and student
handbills. Additionally, the archives hold the Brooklyn College masters'
theses from 1936 to the present, an extensive photographic and newspaper
clippings collection, and an oral history collection documenting the early
development and building of the college.
Brooklyniana
Collection
Collections in this
grouping document the evolution of the Borough of Brooklyn. Among them
are the St. Francis College Local History Research Files; the Brooklyn
Historical Photographic Collection; a collection of published community
and country histories; a sizable map and genealogical collection; and the
public and professional papers of such noted Brooklyn legislators and civic
leaders as John J. Rooney, Eugene Keogh, William Conklin, and Roy Richardson.
Manuscript
Collection
These collections include the personal
and professional papers and memorabilia of individuals who have national
and social importance. Among these are the papers of Dr. Lauretta Bender,
child psychologist; Annie Peck Smith, scholar and early mountaineer; Laura
Benet, writer; and Captain James M. Pettit, Civil War soldier.
Rare
Book Collection
The Rare Book Collection contains some
two thousand volumes ranging from the late sixteenth century to the early
twentieth century. This collection includes titles of significant literary,
historical, geographical, and scientific value. The collection has representative
examples of incunabula (books printed before 1501) and early American imprints.
Many are autographed and inscribed by their authors, including the works
of Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Hours
and Access Policy
Due to the Library
move, Special Collections will be closed until September 2002. Our
state-of-the-art facility will open at the start of the Fall 2002 semester
in the refurbished Gideonse Library.
Reference and research
assistance is offered to all Brooklyn College students, alumni, faculty,
and administrators. Access is also available to outside researchers, writers,
and students, who should secure permission from the archivist prior to
visiting the collections. All collections, unless otherwise restricted,
are available for review by responsible researchers. Visitors are required
to sign our register after presenting proper identification.The duplication
of collection materials either by photocopying and/or computer-based processing
is permitted on a case-by-case basis. Permission is determined by the physical
condition of the requested materials and any copyright or use restrictions
that may apply. Consultation with the archivist is required.
Bibliographic
Access
The book titles
in the Archives and Special Collections Division are cataloged and appear
in the CUNY+ online catalog. Archival materials are cataloged in MICRO-MARC
AMC, a special database designed to provide bibliographic control and access
to archival materials. This database is available to researchers in the
archives, as are the individual guides prepared for each archival collection.
Researchers are encouraged to avail themselves of these finding aids. Some
of our finding aids are available online at the Online
Finding Aid page.
For
further information, contact:
Archives and Special
Collections
Brooklyn College
Library
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889
Voice (718) 951-5346
Fax (718) 951-4557
email: Professor
Anthony M. Cucchiara at:
tonyc@brooklyn.cuny.edu
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