Preserving History for the Future
Like an early architectural scheme for a miniature version of the Central University Library that would house UC San Diego’s rare and archival materials, Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) is a “micro” version of our larger library enterprise. Established 50 years ago by Melvin Voigt, our visionary first university librarian, SC&A performs all of the functions that take place in the other units of the Library plus a few more that are unique to SC&A. What’s different about SC&A is our holdings: rare books, maps, manuscripts, photographs, recordings, art works, archives and even digital materials that distinguish the UC San Diego Library from other research libraries. From its inception, SC&A has focused on working collaboratively with UC San Diego faculty to build comprehensive collections that support campus academic programs. Dating from the 13th century and numbering 250,000 volumes and a few miles of manuscripts, collections focus on early voyages of exploration and discovery in the Pacific; the Spanish Civil War; oceanography; the culinary history of the West Coast and Latin America; modern American poetry; the anthropology of Oceania; the history of San Diego and the border region; Baja California; artists’ books; the history of contemporary science and technology;
1971
All residents of the city and county were invited to visit the campus and tour the new research library building. The general open house was part of a three-day building dedication that also included a preview opening event with remarks by architect William Pereira and a special “educators day” for faculty and staff of both public and private elementary and secondary schools.
and the records of our own campus. Many of these collections have become the “library of record” for international scholarship and primary resources for students to experience, study and analyze. While these materials connect us to the past, they also connect us to the international community of scholars and the greater San Diego community. During the Library’s infancy, the Friends of the UCSD Library and generous individuals offered support through gifts of funds and assistance with securing books and manuscripts. Today, most books for SC&A are purchased, but the majority of manuscript collections come about because of longtime relationships with San Diegans, such as Dr. Salk and Dr. Seuss.
publication requests from all parts of the globe via email, a service that has become increasingly valued during the current pandemic. While SC&A’s materials connect us to the past, our true mission is to share these treasures as widely as possible. Ultimately, the value is what students and scholars do with them through research, instruction and new scholarship that gives them a future. Enjoy the images – a few of our favorite things from the vault! Lynda Corey Claassen Director, Special Collections & Archives
For those unable to visit the Library in person, digitization has made many of our unique materials accessible to a wider range of patrons, and this type of outreach is an ongoing effort. We facilitate a significant volume of reference and
1973
The Library added its one-millionth volume, John Ogilby’s America, a rare account of early discoveries and expeditions to America, a gift of Kenneth E. and Dorothy V. Hill.
COLLECTIONS SPO TLIGHT
Inside the Vault
1974
The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages was established in Special Collections & Archives and became a “library of record” for early Pacific exploration. The nucleus of the collection was a gift from Kenneth E. & Dorothy V. Hill.
1976
Millicent D. Abell was appointed as the second university librarian. FA L L 2020
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