DRURY UNIVERSITY
F.W. OLIN LIBRARY
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND
ARCHIVES
Organization
The Special Collections and Archives section of the F.W. Olin Library is composed of five separate units: Special Collections, Drury University Archives, the Rare Book Collection, the Robert H. and Sally A. Gibbons Collection, and Administrative Records Storage. It should be noted that the Administrative Records Storage section of Special Collections and Archives is not considered to be part of the library=s collection; these administrative records are merely stored in the library=s archival vault.
Collection Profiles
Special Collections: Special Collections is primarily a collection of materials that, for a variety of reasons, cannot be kept in the library=s main collection. The collection includes books of some value that are in a fragile condition; books or other materials that contain loose plates; books or other materials that are not in a standard book format (such as Griffin and Sabine, an epistolary novel that actually contains loose Aletters@ and their envelopes); materials that need to be protected against theft; and any other library item that merits special protection.
Drury University Archives: The Drury University Archives Collection is composed of material that is related to the history of Drury University. The collection includes Drury publications, papers, memorabilia, artwork, photographs and other material that is of historical significance to the institution. Presidential papers are kept in the collection, as are the papers of selected alumni. Books, articles, theses, etc., by Drury faculty, students, and alumni are also included. Finally, some student and faculty records are kept in archives.
The Rare Book Collection: The majority of the books in this collection were donated to Drury by Major Theodore Penfield Walker. The collection also includes items acquired through donations and purchases. The primary purpose of the rare book collection is to serve as a Ateaching collection@ for the study of rare books, printing history, and the history of the book. The materials in this collection include books which illustrate some aspect of printing or book history; books printed at the presses of famous printers and printing houses; books that have significant historical or cultural value; first editions or special editions of important works; signed books by prominent authors; specialty-press books; works that contain examples of fine illustration; and books that provide examples of fine binding and/or decoration.
The Robert H. and Sally A. Gibbons Collection: The Gibbons Collection in comprised chiefly of material on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but also includes items on other political assassinations in American history. It is the gift of Robert H. and Sally A. Gibbons, who continue to add material to the collection. The collection includes books and articles on the assassination of President Kennedy, as well the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X.. The collection also includes photographs, films and video recordings, and ephemera and memorabilia related to these assassinations and to the life and times of JFK.
Administrative Records Storage: The Special Collections and Archives section of the F.W. Olin Library also provides a records storage service for the administrative offices on campus. Important records from these offices are stored in the archival vault. Many of these records are on a retention schedule (determined by the office of origin) and are eventually destroyed; a few are to be kept permanently. The Special Collections Librarian keeps an inventory of these holdings, and gives personnel from campus offices access to these records. Again, since these records are not considered to be part of the library=s collection, the Special Collections Librarian does not provide indexing of any sort for these items.
WWG
Reviewed 08/28/08
