Manuscript Collections
The University of Arizona Library Special Collections includes manuscript collections in a variety of subject areas, with a strong emphasis on the history and literature of Arizona and the borderlands of the Southwest. Within these collections, dating chiefly from the 18th century to the present, one finds journals of explorers, diaries of settlers, papers of prominent Arizonans, and records of small businesses and larger organizations. Special Collections also contains the papers of Arizona politicians, including Morris K. Udall, Stewart Udall, and Dennis DeConcini.
Manuscript collections are described briefly in the Libraries' online catalog. Many are described in further depth in our online finding aids. Click here for an alphabetical list of manuscript collections.
Arizona Territorial and Modern Business
The records of territorial and modern Arizona businesses provide insights into the growth and development of the Southwest. Surveying, ranching, banking, mining, and tourism are represented in the records of Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, the Empire Ranch, the Jacobs Family, the Arizona Copper Company, and the Fred Harvey Company.
Congressional and Political Affairs
Special Collections is the repository for a number of major congressional and political affairs collections of regional and national significance. Individuals who have donated their political papers for public research are Henry Ashurst, Lewis W. Douglas, George W.P. Hunt, Jesse A. Udall, Morris K. Udall, Stewart L.Udall, James McNulty, Dennis DeConcini, and Jim Kolbe.
Explorers and Pioneers
Works by Spanish missionaries and other explorers of the Southwest offer extraordinary insights on the region from the 18th and 19th centuries. Collections in this area include an original handwritten diary by Father Kino describing his exploration of southeastern Arizona during 1699; a handwritten copy of Father Garces’s diary documenting his 1775-1777 exploration of the Southwest; and a handwritten copy of a 1776-1777 diary by Father Escalante detailing his exploration of the Four Corners region.
The papers of Anglo pioneers from the nineteenth century provide rich information on the history of southern Arizona. Collections in this area include the papers of the Oury family, as well as the papers of John Clum, noted Apache agent and mayor of Tombstone, Arizona.
Manuscript collections focusing on the history of Native Americans in Arizona include the papers of Carlos Montezuma, Father Berard Haile, Father Bonaventure Oblasser, the Franciscan Brothers at Saint Michaels, and records of the Hubbell Trading Post at Ganado.
Literary Figures and Small Presses
Literary figures whose papers are held by Special Collections include Edward Abbey, Charles Bukowski, Walter Burns, Walt Coburn, Earle Forrest, Merle Armitage, Frank Holme, Joesph W. Krutch, Charles F. Lummis, Lawrence Clark Powell, Charles Reznikoff, Thomas Wood Stevens, Sophie Treadwell, and Diane Wakowski.
Southwest Folklore Collection
The Southwest Folklore Collection is a research collection documenting the region’s folklore, folk arts, music, and culture. The collection is particularly strong in accounts of the folklore of southern Arizona.
University of Arizona Archives
The University of Arizona archives in Special Collections contain administration and departmental records, photographs and biographical information relating to past students and faculty from the late 19th and early 20th century. More recent records are maintained at the University Records Management and Archives facility. University of Arizona scientists whose papers are held by Special Collections include Andrew E. Douglass, Edward T. Hall, Pierre Lecomte du Nouy, Homer L. Shantz, and George E.P. Smith.