LibGuides: Special Collections and University Archives: About

Photo of rolling shelving in archives Photo of shelves with archival boxes

Welcome to Special Collections and University Archives!

Hannon Library's Special Collections and University Archives contain materials of significant historical and research value that are too valuable, rare, or fragile to place in the open stacks.

These collections often contain primary source evidence of historical events, people, periods, and areas.

Our Special Collections are kept in a secure, climate-controlled storage room in the library that is not accessible to the public. However, these collection materials can be requested to be viewed in person, under supervision, in our Reading Room in the library.

See our General Hours below to make an appointment to see any of our Special Collections or University Archives materials.

Virtual Volunteers

Special Collections holds several handwritten documents created between 1880 and 1939 that need transcribing. Among them are:

- the Francis G. Swedenburg papers
- the Walter Phillips papers
- the Anderson-Phillips family papers

Hannon Library seeks to make these materials keyword-searchable and more comfortable to read for student researchers and local historians.

Anyone can participate in the transcription effort. Special Collections staff will review the completed transcriptions. The approved transcription will be available alongside the original document.

Check it out!

Attention Faculty!

Did you know that you can bring your class to our reading room to view materials we hold in our Special Collections?

We are happy to set up a viewing of a single item or a selection of items related to the class you are teaching. If you reach out to the Special Collections Librarian, Jan Juliani, we can discuss the materials you are interested in showing your students and set up a day and time to bring your class. We will have the room and materials ready when you arrive for your appointment.

The Reading Room comfortably fits about 20 people at a time, but we can accommodate larger classes by rotating smaller groups in and out of the room to ensure equal access to the materials by everyone.

We require at least 2 business days notice to set up a larger display, but only 1 day for single items.

Visit Special Collections and Archives

In order to provide more efficient and effective service, Special Collections and Archives offers on-site access to our collections by-appointment only. You can make an appointment by filling out the Appointment Request form.

Appointments must be scheduled at least one (1) business day in advance.

Advance notice of your visit and research interests allows us to better assist you in identifying materials relevant to your research, and provide more efficient service during your on-site visit. A by-appointment model also allows us to limit Reading Room disruptions, and focus on you and on your research needs.

In some cases, we may be able to support your research remotely through digitization.

Please note that appointment availability is subject to change based on a number of extenuating factors, including but not limited to: staff availability, Library hours, University-mandated curtailment of services, and inclement weather conditions.

Photo of the Reading Room in Hannon Library

Dr. John Barton Special Collections Reading Room,
Hannon Library, Room 209

Rules of the Reading Room:

No food or drink is allowed in the Reading Room.
Book bags, coats, backpacks, etc. will be left behind the staff desk while research materials are present.
Researchers may use pencils only when taking notes.
Photos may be taken of the materials.

Photo of the space inside the Reading Room

Donations

If you have questions about a possible donation or transfer of materials to our Special Collections or Archives, please contact our Special Collections Librarian, Jan Juliani, so that we can begin communication with you. Her information is listed below.

Please note that we are unable to accommodate drop-in donations. Be sure to contact us in advance to set up a day, time, and location to meet.

If you would like to make a financial donation to support our ongoing and future collection development and maintenance, please visit giving.sou.edu/library/.

Photo of Table Rock

SOU’s Land Acknowledgment

SOU's Land Acknowledgement
We want to take this moment to acknowledge that Southern Oregon University is located within the ancestral homelands of the Shasta, Takelma, and Latgawa peoples who lived here since time immemorial. These Tribes were displaced during rapid Euro-American colonization, the Gold Rush, and armed conflict between 1851 and 1856. In the 1850s, discovery of gold and settlement brought thousands of Euro-Americans to their lands, leading to warfare, epidemics, starvation, and villages being burned. In 1853 the first of several treaties were signed, confederating these Tribes and others together – who would then be referred to as the Rogue River Tribe. These treaties ceded most of their homelands to the United States, and in return they were guaranteed a permanent homeland reserved for them. At the end of the Rogue River Wars in 1856, these Tribes and many other Tribes from western Oregon were removed to the Siletz Reservation and the Grand Ronde Reservation. Today, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians are living descendants of the Takelma, Shasta, and Latgawa peoples of this area. We encourage YOU to learn about the land you reside on, and to join us in advocating for the inherent sovereignty of Indigenous people.

SOU Land Acknowledgment

SOU Special Collections and Archives in the Media!

April 13, 2024 - Ashland.news -"National Library Week: One for the books"

May 6, 2024 - news.SOU.edu - "Past to present: the Hannon Library's Shively Legacy"

General Hours

Special Collections and Archives hours are currently:

By appointment only.

Searching Special Collections & Archives

ArchivesSpace
ArchivesSpace is a database for searching Hannon Library’s archival and manuscript collection finding aids.

Archives West
Archives West provides access to descriptions of primary sources in the western United States, including correspondence, diaries or photographs. Digital reproductions of the materials are available in some cases.

Hannon Library Search

Internet Archive

Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.

Search our digital collections:

Slideshow

Public Domain Day

Public Domain Day

is an observance of when copyrights expire and works enter into the public domain. This legal transition of copyright works into the public domain usually happens every year on January 1st based on the individual copyright laws of each country.

Public Domain Day 2026
On January 1, 2026, copyrighted creative works first published in 1930 (plus sound recordings from 1925) enter the public domain in the United States.
Public Domain Day 2025
Public Domain Day 2024
U. S. Copyright Office

Harmful Content Warning

Southern Oregon Special Collections & Archives contain historical materials that may reflect biased, offensive, or harmful viewpoints and language due to past cultural attitudes. Some content may depict violence or graphic events preserved for historical significance. We aim to provide respectful descriptions using contemporary understanding. However, some records may contain outdated, racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic, xenophobic or otherwise offensive terms inherited from past creators and cataloging practices. We welcome feedback to improve descriptions and reduce harm at libspec@sou.edu. Thank you for your understanding as we work to make Southern Oregon Special Collections & Archives an inclusive space honoring all individuals and communities.