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Special Collections

Photograph of Loretta Ross

The Smith College Special Collections houses the college's various rare book, manuscript, and archival collections.

 Important Information About Special Collections During COVID-19

  • The Special Collections reading room is closed. As of March 17, all Special Collections staff will be working remotely and in-person services are closed. All other services will be limited and delayed. Smith course support is our primary responsibility at this time.
  • Minimal reference services will be managed remotely by staff. Reference inquiries that require materials investigation will be held in order of when they were received and responded to once the campus is opened.
  • Digitization services are not available at this time.
  • Please submit all questions and requests to specialcollections@smith.edu.

Discover Our Collections

Materials in Special Collections

Records describing the archives and manuscripts found at Smith College.

Screenshot Five College Library Catalog

Search the library catalog for rare books, college publications, and other archival material.

Pamphlets from the YWCA

Smith College online collections including Special Collections and more.

Materials in the Smith College Special Collections

Useful as a starting point in doing research in Smith College Special Collections.

Explore Special Collections

About Special Collections

Mission & vision statements, visiting Special Collections, staff & contacts, information for donors, frequently asked questions and more…

Special Collections Services

Research consultations, instruction, rights and reproductions, records management, grants for researchers, and more...

Visit Special Collections

Smith College Special Collections is open to the public. See information for visitors.

Collections

Materials in College Archives

College Archives
Explore the many narratives of Smith College, with an emphasis on its vibrant undergraduate life.
Mortimer Rare Book Collection

Mortimer Rare Book Collection
View printed books and manuscripts, and study the original papers and drafts of Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath.
Buttons in the Sophia Smith Collection

Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History
Discover the oldest and one of the largest collections of women’s history in the world.

Keep Exploring

News & Highlights

New collections, recent scholarship, student projects, grant-funded projects, and more...

100 Years Empowering Change

View an online exhibit of the history of the Smith College School for Social Work, featuring images, texts, oral histories, and videos.

Renovation Transition

Access and services during construction of the New Neilson Library.

Online Exhibits

Online and digital exhibits featuring images and materials from Smith College Special Collections.

I Spy the YWUSA Records

Follow the progress of the grant project to digitize microfilm, photographs and serials.

Contact

Special Collections

Young Library
4 Tyler Drive
Northampton, MA 01063
Phone: 413-585-2970
Email: specialcollections@smith.edu

Director of Special Collections: 
Elizabeth Myers

Staff & Contacts

Visit Special Collections