Welcome to SDSU Special Collections and University Archives

Special Collections and University Archives houses rare, fine, unique, and valuable books, periodicals, manuscripts, and documents which require security and care in handling. Other valuable historical items such as photographs, prints, postcards, memorabilia, scrapbooks, and oral histories are also held in Special Collections.

Johannes Kepler: Tabulae Rudolphinæ 1627
From the Ernst Zinner Collection

Our New Acquisitions blog showcases some of our most intriguing new additions to the collections, and will feature some highlights of our existing collections in the near future.

This photograph documents the groundbreaking move of San Diego State in 1929 to Montezuma Mesa before the university buildings were constructed.

Instruction in Special Collections

We welcome tours and class sessions in Special Collections and University Archives which make use of our collections; please call in advance to make arrangements for a customized class presentation. More information about classes in the department is available on our Instruction page.

A class presentation on William Blake, May 2002

Exhibits

Special Collections hosts many exhibits that reflect the diversity of our collections and the campus. We display exhibits in the department, and also in the Donor Hall located on the first floor of Library and Information Access. Please visit our online exhibits!

From our exhibit: Celebrating Claire Van Vliet and the Janus Press (May-June 2002)

Donating Materials

Acquisition of many of the rare books and other Special Collections items is made possible through the generous contributions of the Friends of the Library and other donors. Collections acquired from alumni and faculty are normally received as donations, and are documented by a Deed of Gift form. If you have materials you would like to donate or have any questions, please contact us at (619) 594-6791 or send an email at scref@rohan.sdsu.edu.

Hieronymus Bock: Kreëtterbuch, 1595

Address:

Special Collections and University Archives
Library and Information Access
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
Phone: (619) 594-6791
Fax: (619) 594-0466
Email: scref@rohan.sdsu.edu

Fall/Spring semester hours:

Monday - Tuesday: 10 A.M. - 7 P.M.
Wednesday - Friday: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Saturday - Sunday:

Closed

Summer/intersession hours:

Monday - Friday: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.

Location:

Library and Information Access
Manchester Hall
Fourth Floor
Room 4410

Directions to the Library and Information Access
Library Map