There are hidden treasures and artifacts waiting to be discovered by the students at The University of Memphis.
The Special Collections Department, located in the McWherter Library, processes some of the rarest books, maps, manuscripts and personal artifacts in the Mid South.
Materials in the collections range from an anthropodermic book (a book made of human skin) to some actual pages from ancient Egypt. Medieval documents, maps of the early settlement of the Mississippi Valley Area and materials covering the history of the South are also available.
Edwin Frank, associate professor of libraries and curator of Special Collections, said works on the history of the civil rights movement and the American Civil War are waiting for potential researchers, but interested students cannot take the research materials further than the study area just outside of the Special Collections office.
“If students want to use first hand materials like diaries and letters of soldiers during the war, it is available here,” said Frank.
According to Frank, the special collection archives of The U of M are quite large, compared to nearby universities like UT- Martin and Ole Miss.
The department contains around 40,000 individual pieces. In order for a document to be included in the collection, it must be written before the 1700s, be covered in expensive binding, a known rarity, a special donation, a Confederate Army imprint or cost over $750.
The budget of the Special Collection Department allows them to buy 200 to 400 pieces each year.
Not only rare and old materials are in the collection — regular trade brings new and original material.
If students are interested in using the research material, they can find their desired book on the computer and bring the call number to the department to be allowed to use the materials in the study area.
“We like to keep track of the rare materials in the collection,” said Frank. “We get students to sign for the materials.”
Frank said the collection will amaze some University of Memphis students.
“Students will see things they normally won’t see,” Frank said.
The Special Collection is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
