Location
Doheny Memorial Library (Second Floor, Southwest Wing)
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189
Phone: (213) 740 5900
Email: specol@usc.edu
Campus map code: DML (second floor)
Overview
Special Collections is the primary repository for the university’s rare books, manuscripts, and archives. It contains more than 130,000 volumes of rare and valuable books and serials, over 300 archival collections, and millions of manuscripts, photographs, films, sound recordings, costumes and objects. Particular strengths of the collections include Los Angeles regional history; American literature; Lion Feuchtwanger and the German émigré experience; natural history; and USC history and the university’s intellectual life. Special Collections is actively expanding its archival holdings, in particular targeting those materials related to the its subjects of strength.
The resources of Special Collections are open to all USC students, staff and faculty as well as patrons not connected to the university. As Special Collections materials do not circulate, users consult such books and manuscripts in the Special Materials Reading Room.