Classes in Special Collections
Special Collections offers rich possibility for academic growth and exploration. Comprised of thousands of manuscripts, rare books, maps, and archives, the collection preserves the physical artifacts of our cultural, literary, and historical landscape. Classes held in Special Collections strive to acquaint students with this landscape and to provide maps to help navigate the past.
Special Collections’ educational outreach features instructional programming shaped around the use and the contents of our collections. We offer a variety of classes geared to the University community, school systems, and visitors, with the purpose of highlighting and furthering the study of rare books and manuscripts. Ranging from presentations of our greatest treasures to subject-specific seminars, each class has been tailored to its audience.
Although most classes narrow in on a specific epoch or theme, popular subjects include:
- Research Methods and Basic Use of Special Collections
- Treasures
- American Literature
- American History
- The Life of Thomas Jefferson
- The Architecture of Thomas Jefferson
- William Faulkner
- Book Arts
- Guided Tours of Current Exhibitions
In addition, we work closely with professors to structure and set up class research projects.
Classes are held in one of our seminar rooms and generally last an hour. Instructors are drawn from staff members in Special Collections. We ask that groups be limited to twenty-five participants and that classes be scheduled with as much advance notice as possible to allow for arrangements and to reserve space.
For more information or to schedule a class, please submit a request using our online form.