20 · Survey Results: Survey Questions and Responses
According to the Society of American Archivists’ “A Glossary of Archival Terminology,” a manuscript collection is “a collection of
personal or family papers.” Different institutions and archivists themselves, however, often have varying definitions of archives and
manuscripts. For this survey please use the term “manuscript collection” to include any archival materials at your institution that are
not university records or part of your records management program.
Background
1. Does your library hold manuscript collections? N=72
Yes 69 96%
No 3 4%
Selected Comments from Respondents
“Archives &Special Collections (at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center) is a unit of the Library but is located in
a separate building adjacent to the Library. The Dodd Center was constructed specifically to hold archival/mss
collections.”
“In addition to SCARaB’s manuscript holdings, the Western Historical Manuscript Collections department, a unit
of the University of Missouri SYSTEM, and the State Historical Society of Missouri, a state agency, both on the MU
campus, hold manuscript collections. I can not speak for these two separate repositories.”
“Medieval, early modern European, Latina American and US colonial through 19th century are in the library. Most
20th century modern manuscripts are in the University Archives, which is not part of the library system.”
“Most manuscript collections at University of Montreal are held by the University Archives, not the Libraries. The
answers provided in this questionnaire cover only the Library part, i.e., the manuscripts held by the Rare Books
Library. This Library has one manuscript collection and many single manuscripts, dispersed in its main collection
and in other smaller collections.”
“Special Collections and University Archives has 4 units: Manuscripts, University Archives, Rare Books, and
Photographs. Included in University Archives (in addition to standard administrative records of UO), are
manuscripts (particularly faculty collections), photographs, and many other media that are typically found in
manuscripts collections.”
“Survey response is for Manuscript Division collections smaller numbers of manuscript collections are held by the
Music Division, American Folklife Center, and several other divisions.”
“The answers provided herein are submitted by and reflect information concerning ONLY the Harry Ransom
Humanities Research Center, on behalf of all UT Austin Libraries.”
“The Manuscripts Unit is part of the Special Collections Research Center, which also includes Rare Books, the
University Archives, and the University Art Collection.”
“The Rare Books &Special Collections Division holds both archives and manuscripts. Basic records exist for most
According to the Society of American Archivists’ “A Glossary of Archival Terminology,” a manuscript collection is “a collection of
personal or family papers.” Different institutions and archivists themselves, however, often have varying definitions of archives and
manuscripts. For this survey please use the term “manuscript collection” to include any archival materials at your institution that are
not university records or part of your records management program.
Background
1. Does your library hold manuscript collections? N=72
Yes 69 96%
No 3 4%
Selected Comments from Respondents
“Archives &Special Collections (at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center) is a unit of the Library but is located in
a separate building adjacent to the Library. The Dodd Center was constructed specifically to hold archival/mss
collections.”
“In addition to SCARaB’s manuscript holdings, the Western Historical Manuscript Collections department, a unit
of the University of Missouri SYSTEM, and the State Historical Society of Missouri, a state agency, both on the MU
campus, hold manuscript collections. I can not speak for these two separate repositories.”
“Medieval, early modern European, Latina American and US colonial through 19th century are in the library. Most
20th century modern manuscripts are in the University Archives, which is not part of the library system.”
“Most manuscript collections at University of Montreal are held by the University Archives, not the Libraries. The
answers provided in this questionnaire cover only the Library part, i.e., the manuscripts held by the Rare Books
Library. This Library has one manuscript collection and many single manuscripts, dispersed in its main collection
and in other smaller collections.”
“Special Collections and University Archives has 4 units: Manuscripts, University Archives, Rare Books, and
Photographs. Included in University Archives (in addition to standard administrative records of UO), are
manuscripts (particularly faculty collections), photographs, and many other media that are typically found in
manuscripts collections.”
“Survey response is for Manuscript Division collections smaller numbers of manuscript collections are held by the
Music Division, American Folklife Center, and several other divisions.”
“The answers provided herein are submitted by and reflect information concerning ONLY the Harry Ransom
Humanities Research Center, on behalf of all UT Austin Libraries.”
“The Manuscripts Unit is part of the Special Collections Research Center, which also includes Rare Books, the
University Archives, and the University Art Collection.”
“The Rare Books &Special Collections Division holds both archives and manuscripts. Basic records exist for most
