Special Collections Research Center

COVID-19 & Social Responsibility initiatives

Current Initiatives

The Special Collections Research Center is working currently on two new initiatives:

• Fresno State COVID-19 Archive: documenting the campus response to COVID-19 pandemic in real time.
• Social Responsibility Collection: material related to the social justice movement and anti-racism protests that began in May 2020 as it relates to Fresno State.

Read more about our initiatives and how to participate in this effort.

About Us

The Special Collections Research Center is comprised of several specialized book collections, manuscript collections, and the University Archives. Anyone is welcome to use our collections, but all materials must be viewed in the Woodward Family Reading Room.

• Visit the Information for Researchers and Donors page for more details and suggestions.
• View past exhibitions and gift/donor information.

NOTE: A picture I.D. is required while you are doing research and photocopying is done by our staff.

Local History Collection

We have a broad spectrum of materials which document the history of our region.

Water-Related Collections

As water is critical to our region's past, present and future, our water-related collections form a very important subset of our local history manuscript collections.

World’s Fair Collection

We offer access to a very special collection of memorabilia for World"s Fairs.

Book Collections

We house several specialized book collections. Not everything in Special Collections is listed in the online system.

University Archives

Many different types of magazines, newspapers, and materials showing the history of our campus.

Political Collections

Manuscript collections documenting the political history of Central California, featuring the records of congresspeople, state legislators, a mayor and political organizations.

Enology Collection

Established in 1968, when materials were purchased from the personal collection of a well-known wine journalist, Roy Brady.

Photographs and Slides

A lot of our photographs and slides are available online; while others must be seen physically.

Other Collections

A large number of other unique and interesting collections exist within our library walls. We want you to explore them.