Special Collections

Margaret Layne and the first Track and Field Team, 1978 Vanderbilt Commodore The first recorded organization of women’s athletics at Vanderbilt University was by Stella Vaughn in the 1890s. Women students participated in numerous athletic activities from then on, never receiving much appreciation or support from the university.  There… Read More

If you have not already registered to attend this Friday’s noon-1:00 p.m. webinar showcasing the Libraries’ latest new acquisitions, we hope you will register today. Curators will share these highlights from collections that are newly processed and now accessible: The Title IX Scrapbook of Margaret Layne ENG’80 includes… Read More

Beginning Monday, March 14, the Jean & Alexander Heard Libraries will reopen their doors to visitors. Campus visitors who are accompanied by a community member, such as an admissions officer or faculty researcher, are also welcome. Alumni and emeriti are once again able to visit the libraries during open hours… Read More

Vanderbilt Libraries is pleased to announce the opening of From Golden Type to Double Gilt: Fine Press Books at Vanderbilt Libraries, on view February 14 through May 30, 2022 on the 2nd floor of Central Library, in Special Collections and University Archives. Modern fine press book design began with artist… Read More

Due to the icy roads, Special Collections will be closed this Friday, February 4, 2022.  Virtual reference will be available as will our digital collections and finding aids.  Reach us at specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu with questions or to book an appointment.  We look forward to seeing you soon. Read More

As a part of the Fall 2021 Buchanan Library Fellowship Building a University: Vanderbilt’s Second Decade, 1885-1895 undergraduate fellows examined historically significant university documents in the Special Collections Library and placed them in context with the university’s and the nation’s history, while learning how to interpret primary sources for… Read More

As a part of the Fall 2021 Buchanan Library Fellowship The American Presidency: Challenges of the Executive Branch undergraduate fellows explored the opportunities and challenges of the American Executive Branch. Fellows selected books, manuscripts, government publications, and news broadcasts from the Vanderbilt libraries collections to uncover historic decisions and… Read More

Cookbook images courtesy of History of Medicine Collections Celebrate the last week of National Cookbook Month by making an appointment with the History of Medicine Collections to view a cookbook from the 1650’s! Highlights of the collection are handwritten recipe books from the 18th and 19th centuries, and cookbooks… Read More

Central, Divinity and Special Collections Libraries will be closed Monday, Dec. 20, due to a water outage. For other campus libraries’ availability, visit the hours page. Read More

Archives and Storytelling: Exploring the Life of Dizzy Gillespie through Photographs Vanderbilt’s Special Collections recently received the John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie collection which includes a wealth of photographs and snapshots that document the musical activities of this iconic figure in jazz history. Fellows will work to identify Gillespie’s associates in… Read More