About the Collections

The Special Collections and Archives Department preserves and provides access to the research, manuscript, rare book, and archival collections of Missouri State University.

The collections can be divided into four broad categories:

• The University Archives serves as the institutional memory of Missouri State University and contains records that chronicle the history and development of the institution back to its founding in 1905;
• The Ozarkiana Collection is a selective collection of books, journals, and manuscripts concerning the social, cultural, political, and economic history of the Ozarks and the Southwest Missouri region.;
• The Ozarks Labor Union Archives contains records of over 100 labor unions in the Ozarks and Missouri; and,
• General Special Collections provides access to rare books, subject-specific literature collections, and archival materials that complement the institutional and regional holdings.

To learn more about specific collections, visit the “Collection List” links at left. More information on accessing materials, collecting policies, and visiting campus is located under General Information. Resources in Special Collections and Archives are available to the public and the University community, but do not circulate outside the department's reading room.