As part of William & Mary Libraries, the Special Collections Research Center at Swem Library takes pride in supporting and enhancing teaching and research and in fostering intellectual curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning. Over the years, many generous donors have enabled us to collect and preserve the diverse array of rare and unique materials so we can continue to fulfill our mission.
- Manuscripts Over 3,600 collections of unpublished documents of general cultural importance or interest
- Rare Books More than 50,000 volumes of published works for which few survive, few copies were made, or the physical book’s history or owner make it significant
- University Archives Close to 1,000 collections comprising the official and unofficial records of William & Mary
We strive to create a diverse collection for learning and research that belongs to everyone through building meaningful partnerships with campus and community groups based on mutual trust, understanding, and giving.
