Special Collections

Special Collections is made up of three units: The Poetry Collection, Rare Books and the University Archives. We are in the process of building a new Special Collections website that will be able to tell you how to locate Special Collections materials, our photocopy, scanning and digital cameras policies, contact information, online exhibits and more.

For now -- please refer to either the Poetry Collection or the University Archives websites:

The Poetry Collection

Devoted to 20th century poetry in English and English translation, The Poetry Collection contains over 100,000 volumes by every major and many minor poets writing in English. Recordings of poets reading from their own works, poets' notebooks, letters and manuscripts, and a wide variety of literary magazines are also included in this collection.

Approximately 5,000 little magazine titles, 1,200 current subscriptions, and a number of portraits, sculptures, and photographs.

The University Archives

The history of the University at Buffalo and the contributions of the men and women who have shaped and guided the institution since its founding in 1846 can be found in the almost 1,000 collections of University Records. These collections are primary source material about the University. Collecting, organizing and providing access to these collections is why the University Archives exists.