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Special Collections and Archives

Special Collections and Archives

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We acquire, preserve, and provide access to primary sources and rare materials that support the teaching and research programs of Kent State University. The collections, totaling nearly 21,000 cubic feet, are comprised of sources in all formats including manuscripts, archival materials, and 135,000 books and periodicals. To learn more about our collections, please view our Spotlight on Special Collections exhibit.

News

NEW EXHIBITION OPEN

More Than a Club: The Legacy of Student Life at Kent State

Borowitz Gallery, 12th Floor, University Libraries. Open to the public 9:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday.

Student life at Kent State University is vibrant and the spectrum of opportunities is broad and encompassing. Along with more than 350 student organizations, the KSU campus is also home to hundreds of activities, programs, and events each year. From athletics to theatre, politics to art, academics to music, this thriving student culture is not a new phenomenon, but rather a legacy that goes back to the University's early years.

This exhibit will take you on a journey from the 1920s to the 2020s to see what students have cared about and participated in throughout the University’s history. While not an exhaustive record of the groups that have existed, the documents and images in this exhibit represent a sample of materials created by KSU student organizations.

NEW EXHIBITION OPEN

The Queen of Crime: Commemorating Agatha Christie 50 Years Later

Marovitz Gallery, 1st Floor, University Libraries

January 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of beloved crime novelist, playwright, short story writer, and poet Agatha Christie (née Miller). Christie was a prolific author of 66 detective novels, 14 collections of short stories, and numerous plays. Some of Christie’s most recognizable characters include Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and Harley Quin. Christie wrote until her death in 1976, publishing at a rate of at least a novel, short story collection, or play every year. Her books are estimated to have sold over two billion copies worldwide, have been translated into at least 100 languages, and have been adapted for numerous films and television programs. She died at the age of 85 of unmysterious, natural causes. This exhibit contains a small sample of the numerous titles by Agatha Christie available for research  in Special Collections & Archives. 

 
Explore Digital Collections

Explore Digital Collections

Historical Kent State images, maps, campus newspaper and yearbooks; thousands of May 4 archival photographs, recordings, documents, oral histories; and primary and secondary sources related to the true crime genre.

Spotlight on Special Collections

Spotlight on Special Collections

Explore major collections held in the department through this online exhibit.

Exhibits

Exhibits

Check out our latest exhibitions on campus and online.