In support of the university’s mission, the Special Collections and University Archives at Indiana University of Pennsylvania actively collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to the institutional history of IUP, as well as the Pennsylvania
Collection, rare books, artifacts, and historical information relevant to the region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
You are welcome to search the website to find information and use our non-circulating materials in the reading room located in the Patrick J. Stapleton, Jr. Library, Room
302. Office hours may vary from the hours listed at the bottom of the page, so you are encouraged to contact us at hwick@iup.edu prior to your visit. Please submit a request form for research inquiries in order to make the best use of your time.
Many of our collections are available online, including Coal Culture Projects, Indiana County in the Civil War,
Digital Exhibits, IUP History,
IUP Image Collections, and IUP Publications.
ArchivesSpace provides access to finding aid documents that index archival collections. Record Groups represent the institutional history of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and include IUP Publications created by campus offices and departments. Manuscript Groups are collections donated by individuals, businesses, and organizations—often associated with the university or Pennsylvania—these archival collections include history related to the
coal mining, steel, and transportation industries.
Books in Special Collections
Many titles have been identified as rare, limited editions, or fragile, and are in the Pennsylvania and Rare Book Collection. To maintain this collection, you can Adopt a Rare Book, to support the repair of titles in need of professional conservation. Although these books do not circulate, you can search these titles on the IUP Libraries' website, and schedule a research visit to Special Collections.
The Pennsylvania Collection contains many rare, out-of-print, and important publications that document the government, history, industry, and transportation in Appalachia and the Commonwealth.
The Rare Book Collection serves to preserve unique publications and manuscripts owned by the IUP Libraries, including many generously donated titles, visit the IUP Libraries' Gifts and Giving website.
Special Collections Faculty
Harrison Wick, Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist, hwick@iup.edu