Portland State University Library’s Special Collections is home to unique, rare, and historically significant items. Holdings include books, journals, manuscripts, documents, photographs, maps, graphic novels, audio-visual material, and realia, spanning from the Middle Ages to the present. All members of the community are encouraged to utilize this rich collection in their scholarly and creative work. Special Collections also supports instruction on our primary resources and arranges research and course visits with original materials.
Mission
The mission of Special Collections, guided by the mission of the Portland State University Library, is to promote learning and discovery and to advance research and scholarship by collecting, preserving, and, above all, making accessible unique materials deemed to have long-term historical value to Portland State and the greater academic community.
Vision
Special Collections is the home of vibrant original materials that inspire and serve intellectual discovery and the creation of knowledge. Positioned within the heart of the library, Special Collections engages the campus and the surrounding community by providing access to primary resources that enrich all levels of scholarship.