History 

Use the Advanced search option in the UW Libraries Catalog to identify manuscript collections.  Follow the search example below to limit your results to Archival and Ms Collections. 

Collections of unpublished personal papers, organizational records, and historical photographs are described and inventoried in detailed guides known as finding aids. A finding aid helps the researcher to identify boxes or folders of interest with a manuscript or archival collection. A typical finding aid provides background information on the organization, person, or family who created the papers or photographs, an overview of the collection and its arrangement, and a detailed container list. Many, though not all, finding aids are available to view on the web, see Digitized Finding Aids.  A complete collection of finding aids is available in Special Collections.

The Manuscript collection in Special Collections contains unique, unpublished records created by organizations and individuals in the conduct of their activities. Letters, speeches, minutes, reports, writings, and other types of records document the history and culture of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Manuscripts represent such diverse sources as members of Congress; pioneers and settlers; citizen activists and civic leaders; the forest products industry; labor unions; natural resource conservation groups; members of local Japanese, Jewish, Scandinavian, and other communities; and major cultural figures.

Special Collections also houses University Archives, the central and final repository for the historical records of all aspects of the University of Washington community.

Research using manuscript material is different from more typical library research.  The unique nature of the material dictates that there are stricter security procedures -- users need to register, manuscript materials need to be requested, personal belongings are placed in lockers, photocopying is limited, etc.  The following tips can help you when using the manuscript material in Special Collections:

• Check Special Collections hours, they are open fewer hours than the rest of the library.
  
• Read the Special Collections pages: Help for Our Users and Using the Collections.
  
• Do preliminary research first so that you can place the manuscript material in historical context.  Since manuscripts tend to be either personal papers or organizational records, it is essential to know the important people and groups associated with your research topic.
• Make sure the collections you need are housed on site.  Some collections are kept off-campus and must be requested prior to use.  If this information is not provided in the online finding aid (or if there is no online finding aid), contact Special Collections to check.
• Peruse the online finding aid, if available, prior to using this collection so that you can identify the boxes and folders you will need to examine.
• Allocate sufficient time.  Research using manuscript material takes time.