Hofstra University Library Special Collections Department Special Collections is composed of three different areas: The Rare Books and Manuscripts collections, which consists of books brought together by a collector or items brought together because of a particular theme; University Archives, which focuses on the history of the University; and the Long Island Studies Institute, which contains information about the history of Long Island.
Many of the collections you will find in Special Collections are unique and exciting – for instance, in the Rare Books section you may find travel or adventure books; art or avant-garde materials; children’s books from previous centuries; or limited edition books with beautiful bindings.
1. Front cover of The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain
3. First Hofstra Commencement, 1939
5. Hempstead blizzard of 1888
4. Martin Luther King, Jr. receiving Honorary Degree in 1965
The University Archives materials might include the history of a college department or discipline, student newspapers, yearbooks or campus events through the years. The department has photographs, printed materials and memorabilia representing every year in Hofstra’s history.
Long Island Studies Institute materials might tell the story of Long Islanders in businesses that no longer exist in this part of the state (lace makers or ship captains) or describe slavery on Long Island, Hispanic cultural or social groups, or perhaps a collection that details 19th-century family life on a farm. Special Collections also includes political papers, planning documents, materials in a variety of formats, and wonderful periodicals and books on a variety of subjects.
47855/9:13
6. Mackay estate, Roslyn, NY, 1922
2. Illustration from The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss