Q. How do I use the Special Collections, Rare Books, and Archives Department?

Visit https://libguides.butler.edu/SpecialCollections for Special Collections appointment hours and procedures and service guidelines. The department can be reached via specialcollections@butler.edu, (317) 940-9136

​All library users should follow current Butler University and library protocols. 

Butler University's Department of Special Collections, Rare Books & University Archives is located on the third floor of the Irwin Library in the southwest corner.

The hours for the Special Collections, Rare Books, and University Archives Department are Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by appointment. 

An appointment is not necessary to use the Department during the department's open hours. An appointment is only necessary if arrangements need to be made to use the department outside of regular hours.  If you need research help from the Special Collections librarian, an appointment would be recommended.  Contact Gayle O'Hara, Head of Special Collections with questions (317) 940-9265, gmohara@butler.edu).

Listed below are major collections of books or archival materials housed in Irwin Library's Special Collections and Rare Books Room. Materials are described in WorldCat Discovery. Some collections also have supplementary access lists; these are available on-site and, as they become available, via the Special Collections and Rare Books webpage.

Archive

The archive is located on the 3rd floor of Irwin library within special collections.  The archive includes institutional, physical, scholarly, and, to some extent, the personal history of the university, its programs, facilities, and people.  Their collections include:

• Eliza Blaker Collection Guide
• Hilton U. Brown Collection Guide
• Ovid Butler Collection Guide
• Howard Caldwell/Tony Hinkle Collection Guide [coming soon]
• Will D. Howe/Irvington Athenaeum Collection Guide
• John E. Potzger Papers Collection Guide [coming soon]
• Butler University Women's Faculty Club Collection Guide
• Butler University World War II Service Ledgers Collection Guide

 University archive webpage

Special Collections

The special collections is located on the 3rd floor of Irwin Library.  They house a variety of collections, including: 

• Eliza Blaker Collection Guide
• Hilton U. Brown Collection Guide
• Ovid Butler Collection Guide
• Matthias Davis Papers Collection Guide
• Will D. Howe/Irvington Athenaeum Collection Guide
• Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Collection Guide
• Harold E. Johnson Sibelius Collection
• Etheridge Knight Collection Guide
• Lincoln Collection, including the library of Charles W. Moores
• Jeanette Siron Pelton Botanical Print Collection
• Gaar Williams - Kin Hubbard Collection
• Butler University Copyright Policy

Special collections webpage

Rare Books

The rare books room is located on the first floor of Irwin library at the back of the collaborate learning space in the Great Books Room, as well as in the Special Collections room on the 3rd floor.  The Hugh Thomas Miller Rare Book Room houses early and rare books, as well as manuscripts, prints, maps, classical and popular music scores, newspapers, and memorabilia, in all fields of liberal arts and sciences, education, pharmacy, and the fine and performing arts. Their collection include: 

• William F. Charters South Seas Collection
• Dellinger Education Collection
• Gwen Fountain Collection
• Madame de Staël Collection

Rare books webpage