Special Collections & Archives

Olin Library
252 Church Street
Middletown, CT 06459
sca@wesleyan.edu
860-685-3864
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Welcome to Special Collections & Archives

Special Collections & Archives is the home of the University’s archives, local history, manuscript and rare book collections, and is open to the Wesleyan community and the public. Our department holds and provides access to 10,000 linear feet of archival materials and over 45,000 rare books.

But there’s more to Special Collections & Archives than just our collections! 

  • We answer hundreds of reference questions every year
  • We offer class instruction and Personal Research Sessions for Wesleyan faculty and students
  • We host events, open houses, and exhibitions during Homecoming/Family Weekend, Reunion/Commencement, and throughout the year

Today's Hours

Collections

Research

Teaching

Library/SCA Blog

Footprints of Faith: Exploring Wesleyan’s Missionary History

By Myka Modeste ’27 The African Materials Cultures @Wes Initiative (AfriMC@Wes) focuses on the depth of the history of Wesleyan’s relationship with Africa. In the process of studying the African items in Wesleyan’s collection we are analyzing the consequences of the scope of our influence and wealth in the founding of an African country. Investigating ... Read more

Gone Fishing: Special Collections’ Angling Collection

Joseph Waldo Hosdowich (1898-1972), Wesleyan University, class of 1921, served in the First World War and had a decades-long career as a sales executive at the International Silver Company in Meriden, CT. He donated the Angling collection to the Special Collections library in the 1960s, shortly after retiring. His collection suggests a lifelong love of fishing, ... Read more
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