Browse Special Collections
Our Special Collections include rare books and manuscripts and archival collections that were not produced by AU and don't directly document the history of AU. The rare books collections cover a variety of topics, such as art, Japanese history and culture, literature, mathematics, music, and religion. The archival collections include materials documenting local DC history, radio and journalism history, and two community driven collections, the Peace Corps Community Archives, and the Humanities Truck. Below are highlighted examples from these areas within Special Collections.
Browse Special Collections
Our Special Collections include rare books and manuscripts and archival collections that were not produced by AU and don't directly document the history of AU. The rare books collections cover a variety of topics, such as art, Japanese history and culture, literature, mathematics, music, and religion. The archival collections include materials documenting local DC history, radio and journalism history, and two community driven collections, the Peace Corps Community Archives, and the Humanities Truck. Below are highlighted examples from these areas within Special Collections.
Rare Books and Manuscripts
Our rare books, manuscripts, and print materials include collections of rare books, artist books, manuscripts, musical scores, and other print resources related to a variety of topics including art, Japanese history and culture, literature, mathematics, music, and religion. Additionally, our special collections also include collections of printed programs for various ballet, orchestra, opera and theatre productions in London, New York, and Washington, DC, from the early twentieth century to the present.
Local DC History
One of our collecting areas within our Special Collections is the history of Washington, DC. Our collections focus on the neighborhoods surrounding American University's campus, prominent events in DC and U.S. history, and the people and organizations that make up Washington, DC.
The Humanities Truck Community Archive
Journalism & Mass Communication
A number of our archival collections document the work of several prominent journalists, along with the history of radio, journalism, and mass communication in the Washington, DC area and worldwide. Digitized materials include audio recordings, scripts, photographs, and related documents.
Peace Corps Community Archive
The Peace Corps Community Archive includes of materials created and acquired by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers during their service in various countries. Digitized selections from these collections include correspondence, diaries, films, photographs, reports, scrapbooks, and sound recordings.