Smith College Libraries Research: Archives & Manuscripts



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FINDING PRIMARY SOURCES

Learn about research with archival & manuscript materials through the Five College Primary Source Research Guide. Use the links below to find sources at Smith, and ask for help!

Primary Source Research Guide: http://asteria.fivecolleges.edu/help/intro.html
Links included:	Five College archives Other local repositories	Some online resources Digital collections
Additional information provided:	Definitions and samples of primary sources Tips on finding archival & manuscript materials Information on visiting repositories

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AT SMITH

Smith College Archives

The Smith College Archives documents the history and life of the College by collecting materials created by students, faculty, and staff during their time here. The records in the College Archives can provide researchers with answers to specific questions or help them to understand broad social and cultural issues.

Sophia Smith Collection

The Sophia Smith Collection holds women's and family papers, archives of women's organizations, women's periodicals, photographs, posters, and other one-of-a-kind documents related to women; especially strong in 19th and 20th century U.S. reform movements and feminism.

The College Archives and the Sophia Smith Collection share space on Level A of Alumnae Gym. Enter through Neilson Library (accessible entrance) or directly through a lower-level entrance to the Gym off of Neilson Drive. See Directions & Parking for more information.

Mortimer Rare Book Room

The MRBR houses the college's rare books and literary manuscripts. Among the literary manuscripts are important collections of the papers of Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, and others. The MRBR is located on level 3 north in Neilson Library.

ADDITIONAL COLLECTIONS AT SMITH

Hillyer Art Library, Special Collections (Locked Stacks)

The approximately 2,500 items in the Special Collections (designated as Locked Stacks in the Five College Library Catalog) include Hillyer Art Library's collections of artists' books, manuscript facsimiles, and rare books and periodicals dating from the 18th century to the present.

Josten Library Treasure Cases

The Josten Performing Arts Library Treasure Cases collection contains collected critical editions, composers' complete works, and facsimiles. Manuscripts of Dr. Alfred Einstein and volumes of the Smith College Music Archives are housed here.

Neilson Library Government Documents Collections

Shelved primarily on level 2 north in Neilson Library, U.S. government and international agency materials include Papers of the Presidents and documents from the U.S. Congress, Census Bureau, and State Department. UN Official Records are housed in the Five College Depository and held on microfiche.

Science Library Map Room

The Class of 1935 Map Room in the Young Science Library houses over 150,000 U.S. Geological Survey, National Imagery and Mapping Agency (formerly the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency), and Canadian Geologic Survey topographic and geologic sheet maps, as well as manuscripts and other map products.

ONLINE RESOURCES – Finding Primary Sources

Subscriptions to Digital Primary Sources

Early imprints, ephemera, newspapers and magazines, government publications and other documents are available in digital format on and off-campus through the libraries' new Digital Resources page.

Five College Libraries Catalog

Records in the online catalog provide a brief overview of each collection and are searchable by name, subject, or keyword. Use the "Advanced" search screen to limit format to "Archives & Manuscripts". Many catalog records include links to more detailed inventories (finding aids).

Five College Archives & Manuscript Collections

A database of selected finding aids representing collections held by Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, Smith College & the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

[Note that there are more collections represented in the Five College Catalog than in the Finding aids database. If the inventory for a collection you are interested in is not online, you may obtain a print version by mail, or visit the repository.]

WorldCat (OCLC)

Meta search engine for online catalogs, available free or as a FirstSearch subscription database for the Smith community. Includes all of the Five College records as well as many other institutions around the world.

SCL Website Research Pages

Smith College Libraries subject web pages include links to online resources in specific fields, such as American Studies, Government, History and Study of Women and Gender. Additional resource pages help users to Find Images and Find News.

See the Five College Primary Source Research Guide for more online resources.

HELP FROM AN ARCHIVIST OR LIBRARIAN

Location	Staff Contact	Phone	E-Mail / Notes
College Archives	Nanci Young, College Archivist	(413) 585-2976	nyoung@email.smith.edu
Sophia Smith Collection	Contact the staff, visit, email your question, or call	585-2970	See Regular Open Hours mwhist@smith.edu
Mortimer Rare Book Room	Contact the staff, visit, or call.	585-2906	See Regular Open Hours
Hillyer Art Library	Barbara Polowy Art Librarian	585-2940	bpolowy@email.smith.edu
Josten Performing Arts Library	Marlene Wong Josten Librarian	585-2930	mmwong@email.smith.edu
Neilson Reference Dept.	Need Help? Ask a Librarian!	585-2960	neilref@email.smith.edu
Young Science Library	Rocco Piccinino Science Librarian	585-2950	rpiccini@email.smith.edu

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Last Updated: May 7, 2008