Special Collections | Telephone: 610.436.3456



The Special Collections Department contains West Chester University Libraries' collection of rare books, including the complete five volume set of Shakespeare Folios. The primary mission of the Special Collections Department is to collect materials dealing with the history of Chester County and West Chester University. The collection contains various 18th and 19th century horticultural and botanical works from the libraries of William Darlington and the Chester County Cabinet of Natural Sciences and other materials of particular interest because of their value or relation to Chester County, West Chester or West Chester University. The Special Collections Department also houses the West Chester University Archives and several other archival collections. Materials from Special Collections DO NOT CIRCULATE.

Book Collections:

• Chester County Collections: materials related to Chester County
  • Index to Chester County Clippings File
• Special Collections General: miscellaneous rare materials
• Normal Collection: materials written by WCU alumni and faculty
  • The Centennial History of West Chester University by Dr. Russell L. Sturzebecker
    Complete book, with page images. Index by R. Gerald Schoelkopf.
• Weintraub Collection, Section 1: books authored by and research volumes from the personal collection of Stanley Weintraub, author, alumnus
• Alberta McAfee Historic Textbook Collection: a collection of elementary school texbooks published in America to 1950 Alberta McAfee, WCU faculty member
• Combs Collections: Combs Pop-Up Book Collection, Combs Fine Print Collection Uel Combs, WCU faculty member
• Ehinger Collection: materials dealing with the history of health and physical education to 1945 collected by Russell Sturzebecker and named in honor of Clyde and Ella Ehinger
• LUVIM Collection: autographed books and videos of authors who spoke at West Chester University as part of the LUVIM series
• Philips Autographed Book Collection: includes autographed books collected by George Morris Philips between 1880 and 1920 (housed in Philips Memorial Building)
• Special Collections Juvenile Collection: rare children's books

Archival Collections:

• West Chester University Archives: includes WCU newspapers, catalogs, photographs, and yearbooks
  • Board of Trustees, 1871-1989
    • List by Name  (.pdf) 
    • List by Year  (.pdf)
  • West Chester University Chronology
  • University buildings: Summary data sheets include building history, general condition, current use, and major ongoing projects.  From the WCU Facilities Division.
• Weintraub Collection, Section 2: archival materials including manuscripts and photographs
  • Weintraub - Box Guide
• Becker Archives: personal papers including research and data relating to the Lenni Lenape Indians, the Etruscans, and Mayan Indians.
  • Marshall J. Becker, WCU faculty member from 1968-2004
• Bostelle Archives: Tom Bostelle, Chester County artist
• Chester County Art Association Archives
• Gordon Archives: Robert Benson Gordon [link to obituary full-text via JSTOR, limited to WCU users], WCU faculty member

Miscellaneous Collections

• Chester County Cabinet Collections: items from the Chester County Cabinet Museum (bows, spears, shells, etc.)
• Oral History Collection: taped interviews and transcripts of historic interest
• WCU Museum Collections: artifacts from the WCU museum including pottery, implements, etc.

Library Exhibits: Special Collections perodically exhibits materials in the library.
Library Exhibit Policy and Request Form.pdf

Special Collections online exhibits:

• History of West Chester University
• African Art
• Book Binding
• Christmas in the Works of Stanley Weintraub
• The Centennial History of West Chester University by Dr. Russell L. Sturzebecker
  Complete book, with page images. Index by R. Gerald Schoelkopf.

Access

• Book Collection: Special Collections materials are listed in PILOT, the online library catalog.
• Archival Materials: use the Special Collections Department archival finding aids.
• Materials from Special Collections DO NOT CIRCULATE.
  

Hours

• Hours may be arranged by appointment.  Email libspeccol@wcupa.edu or call 610.430.4400

         To Request an Appointment, Please Include:

• Your name, address, telephone number and/or your e-mail address so that the Special Collections Librarian can get back to you
• The author, title, and call number of any book you would like to see,or a short description of the topic you wish to research in the book collection or the archival collection
• The date(s) you are available to use the collection
  NOTE:
  Most materials must be used in the Special Collections Room
  Photocopying may be restricted
  

Help

• Hours for Special Collections are also available by inquiry to the Reference Desk
         email: refdesk@wcupa.edu; phone: 610.436.2453