Special Collections

• All TSU Special Collections materials are non-circulating.
• All patrons entering Special Collections are required to register at the front desk and leave a valid Student ID or other valid I.D.
• No food or drink is allowed in the area. Smoking is prohibited.
• Cellular phones must be used outside the area.

• Backpacks, coats, and other personal property will need to be stored in a provided locker.
• Pencils only, no pens, for notetaking when researching (laptops allowed; pencils are provided).
• You will not be able to browse the shelves; requested materials will be brought to you.
• Archival materials must be handled with great care. You may remove only one folder at a time from a box, and you must maintain the original order of the folders in the box and the materials in the folder.
• You may be asked to wear gloves when handling photographs or delicate items.
• Allow enough time to finish your research during your visit.
  • Archival collection materials are non-circulating and may not be removed from the research area without authorization.
  •  We do not pull materials in the last 30 minutes of the business day.
  • If you cannot come during normal business hours, consider scheduling an appointment.

The vast majority of our holdings are unique, rare or fragile. We ask that researchers help preserve these items for future generations by following these procedures:

• More than one box or volume of material may be requested for research, but only one unit may be used at a time. Remove only one folder at a time from boxes. A staff member will provide “out” cards so that researchers can mark where folders have been removed.
• Please keep the contents of the folder in the order in which they were found. If folders or materials appear to be out of order, please alert a staff member.
• Materials must lie flat on the tables. Please do not fold, trace, write on, lean on, or otherwise handle the documents in ways likely to damage them.
• Gloves may be required to handle our materials, particularly negatives, photographs, metal objects, and prints. A staff member will provide these gloves when necessary. Photographic materials should only be handled by the edges.