Special Collections

Bailey Library's Special Collections, 311 Bailey Library, collects, preserves, and makes available library material requiring special handling. Rarity, age, historical value, monetary value, condition, unusual format and local significance are some of the factors considered in the evaluation of materials for this collection. Special Collections material is primarily paper-based, but other media are included if they meet collecting or service objectives. Material in Special Collections is included in the library's online catalog, but does not circulate. The collections are listed below:

Artists' Books Collection

Artists' books are interactive works of art that use the form of a book. They can come in a variety of formats, such as traditional book format, an unbound book with accordion-style pages, or something altogether unlike a book that just looks like a book from the outside. Some include words, while others consist exclusively of images. The choice of medium can range from photography to paint to colored paper. Our collection largely focuses on artists' books that include some sort of unifying poem or narrative that drives the art.

Autographed Collection

This collection includes late 20^th to early 21^st century books signed and/or inscribed by their authors, editors, or illustrators.

Critical Literacy Collection

The development of critical literacy skills enables one to explore and question attitudes, beliefs, and values that exist in our society. This collection of primary source texts—books written in another era—reflect a variety of cultural perspectives. Students are encouraged to explore the concept of “the other” in these writings on race, immigration, gender, and politics.

Emma Guffey Miller Collection

Emma Guffey Miller (1874-1970) served as a trustee to Slippery Rock State College from 1933-1968, and was active on a national level in the Democratic National Party. At the 1924 convention she became the first woman to receive a courtesy nomination for the presidency.

This collection contains books from Miller's personal library, some inscribed, which she donated to Bailey Library. It also includes some books once belonging to her brother, Joseph F. Guffey, who was a United States Senator representing Pennsylvania from 1935 to 1947. The Slippery Rock University Archives has some related materials, including a recorded interview with Miller, however the majority of her papers are housed at the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America.

Historical Children's Books

With a view to Slippery Rock University's history as a teacher training institution, Special Collections includes a small collection of nineteenth and early twentieth century children's books. These cover a variety of subjects and include nursery rhymes, storybooks, and young adult novels. Perhaps most notable are the St. Nicholas journal (1873-1924) and selected pop-up books from the 1930s. Additionally a small collection of autographed books are included in this collection, with picture books signed by illustrators Virginia Hamilton, Jerry Pinkney, Tomie dePaola, and Eric Carle.

Historical Music Education Collection

Future music educators and students interested in 20th century popular culture will delight in the educational and cultural changes documented in this collection of elementary school music texts.

Italy Collection

Along with Japan, Slippery Rock's Maltby Library was designated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a cultural center for Italy. Dr. Weisenfluh, president of Slippery Rock State College in 1961 said, "We are hoping to have more than material culture such as art, music, and literature; we would like to get the people from that country to personally express their culture." (The Rocket, February 10, 1961, p.1)

This small collection includes 19th century biographies, limited editions and titles in German, English, and Italian, and numerous volumes in fragile condition.

Japan Collection

The Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, designated the Slippery Rock State College Library as a cultural center for Japan in 1961. Over the years the book collection, mostly in the English language, has been expanded and much of it has been made available in the Library's circulating collection. Exceptions are special or rare items, which make up this collection.

A catalog compiled by Roger Lamson in 1975, and its supplement by Lamson and Harold Helmrich in 1976, describe the collection and are housed with it.

Local Authors Collection

The Local Authors Collection includes materials written or created by individuals with a strong or significant association with Slippery Rock University or the surrounding community. The focus is on publications authored by SRU faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni, although some regional authors are also included in this collection.

Publications edited by local authors are generally not included in this collection. Likewise publications with only one or two articles published by local authors are generally not included.

Maltby Collection

Dr. Albert Elias Maltby served as principal of Slippery Rock Normal School from 1890-1916. This collection includes books from his personal library as well as titles he authored.

Nien Cheng Collection

Nien Cheng (1915-2009) was the author of the 1986 best-selling memoir Life and Death in Shanghai, which details her imprisonment under the Red Guard in the People's Republic of China from 1966 to 1973. Cheng forged a relationship with Slippery Rock University through the efforts of Louis Razzano, SRU Vice-Provost and Associate Vice President, and bequeathed her library and personal papers to the University.

While her 500+ books are available for use by researchers, her papers have not as yet been processed. A grant proposal has been submitted to the National Endowment for the Humanities to process Cheng's personal papers, making them available to researchers.

Pennsylvania Collection

The Pennsylvania Collection focuses on material relating to the counties of Lawrence, Butler, and Mercer in the western portion of the state of Pennsylvania. The library collects significant historical publications relating to these counties and their townships, towns, cities, and other subdivisions, as well as texts on geology and other research areas. Additionally the collection includes publications relating to religious, ethnic, political, social, professional, and trade organizations in these counties.

Rare Books Collection

The Rare Books Collection consists of material that requires special housing because of age, monetary value, condition, association value, unusual format, or susceptibility to loss. Material in this collection is generally transferred from the library's general collection or received as a gift. Criteria for inclusion in the Rare Books Collection include:

Publication date before 1850, although this date will vary with the introduction of printing in a particular area;

Deteriorated texts which are to be retained in their original format;

Editions of fewer than 1000 copies;

Current market value exceeding $500;

Unusual and/or delicate formats such as miniatures, vellum, special bindings, and manuscripts;

Books autographed by their authors or inscribed by significant persons;

Material that is frequently lost and is difficult to locate in the out-of-print market.

Robert A. Macoskey Center Collection

The Robert A. Macoskey Center was established at Slippery Rock University in 1990 to promote sustainability at the university and in the local community. This collection, believed to have belonged to Robert Macoskey, includes early to mid-20^th century works on sustainable agriculture.

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Special Collections

Archives & Special Collections

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