Research Rare and Special Collections
The Auraria Library Special and Digital Collections encompasses collections of unique and special materials ranging from manuscripts to audiovisual objects.
In an effort to represent the diverse backgrounds of our student body, we have unique collections in Latinx history, Japanese-American studies, and women's studies. We also maintain dozens of small manuscript, photograph, and ephemera collections relating to various historical events including the displacement of the Aurarian community during the early-to-mid 1900s.
The Auraria Library Digital Collections allows you to search collections of digitized historical and scholarly materials, including photographs, manuscript collections, rare books, and audiovisual material.
Need Research Help?
If you have any Special Collections-related research questions, please contact us and someone will respond within 48 hours Monday through Friday.
Some materials are also available online in our Digital Collections.
Special Collections Reading Room
The Auraria Library Special Collections Reading Room is a specialized space for viewing with rare and unique materials in our collections.
Specialists in archives and local history are on-hand to answer any research questions you may have and assist you in the discovery of our amazing special collections.
What's Here?
- Very quiet, specialized research environment
- Rare book and artifact displays
- Expert archivists
- An array of equipment used to handle rare books and manuscripts
Reading Room Guidelines
- Reserved for use of Special Collections materials only
- Food & drink-free area
- Complete list of Reading Room guidelines
Find this Space
Use the New Interactive Floor Maps to view where the Reading Room is located in the Library.
Digital Collections
Our Digital Collections allows you research our special collections anytime from anywhere, and it's always free to all visitors.
The Auraria Library Digital Collections (ALDC) serves as the holistic digital repository for the three schools that make up Auraria Campus, as well as the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) and Auraria Library itself.
The ALDC encompasses various collections of digitized historical and scholarly materials ranging from faculty journal articles to the rich and robust collections of Auraria Library Special Collections. Historical photographs, manuscript collections, rare books, and audiovisual material all make up the myriad collections of the ALDC.
ALDC contains dozens of collections and thousands of items including:
- Latinos & Hispanics in Colorado Photograph Collection
- Camp Amache Collections
- Auraria Institutional Repository
