Special Collections

Special Collections, located in the Margaret Clapp Library, contains rare books, manuscripts, and limited editions.

These may be consulted in the Special Collections reading room, which was extensively renovated in 1999 as part of a gift from Lia Gelin Poorvu '56 and William Poorvu. The collections are available for research, free of charge to students and faculty of the Wellesley College community, as well as visiting scholars, regardless of academic affiliation.

For manuscripts, other unique materials, or extended research visits, readers must make an appointment in advance. Please contact Ruth Rogers (rrogers@wellesley.edu) or Mariana Oller (moller@wellesley.edu) and provide the research topic and a list of materials to be examined. Upon arrival, readers are required to register and present photo identification. Limited scanning and photography are available in some instances, depending on the condition of the original. Visitors may bring their own camera (no flash).

To read more about our collections, please click on the "Collections" page in the left sidebar. All of Special Collections' holdings may be searched in the main library catalog.