The John Hay Library houses the majority of Brown University’s special collections, featuring hundreds of thousands of books, pamphlets, magazines, archives, manuscripts, paintings, prints, memorabilia, and much more covering topics including Brown’s history, American literature, military paraphernalia, and medieval manuscripts.
What are Special Collections?
“Special Collections” is an umbrella term for archives, rare books and manuscripts, and other materials that are rare, old, or otherwise worth preserving. Brown houses these items separately from circulating materials, or materials that can be checked out of a library, to ensure preservation and security of the materials. The Hay is one of three Sacred Libraries on Brown’s campus, as it is a closed stack, or non-circulating library, meaning nothing can be checked out of the building. The other two Sacred Libraries are the Annmary Brown Memorial and the John Carter Brown Library.
Can I use Special Collections?
Yes! To use materials in the Hay, a student, faculty, or community member can request items of interest through BruKnow, Brown’s library catalogue and use the items in our Special Collections Reading Room. As a teaching library, we are interested in making available our materials to everyone: if you are not a member of the Brown community, you can register online or with our staff at the front desk in the Hay lobby.
Read more information on the Hay library.
Accessing Collections
- Request materials at the Hay
- Login to your special collections account
- Guides to Brown University Library collections
- Review Special Collections, A-Z
- Digitized Collections
- Connect with a Brown librarian
More Special Collections at Brown
The John Hay Library is one of many research libraries on Brown’s campus! Below are additional libraries and galleries where students can request and research materials, participate in programming, attend exhibitions and lectures, and engage in the rich intellectual life offered within Brown’s libraries.
- The John Carter Brown Library houses collections pertaining to both North and South America before 1825. Located on the corner of the Main Green next to Friedman Hall, the JCB is the second of Brown’s Sacred Libraries and welcomes all students.
- The Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology is Brown’s teaching museum and features rotating exhibitions of anthropological research and artifacts. Located in Manning Hall on the Main Green, the Haffenreffer is open daily to peruse the ongoing exhibitions.
- The Annmary Brown Memorial is both a mausoleum and exhibit. It showcases European and American paintings from the 17th through 20th centuries as well as items from the Rush C. Hawkins Collection. The Memorial is the third of Brown’s Sacred Libraries and houses the Medieval Studies and Renaissance and Early Modern Studies departments.
- The David Winton Bell Gallery is Brown’s contemporary art gallery and houses part of the University’s permanent art collection. Hosting four to five major exhibitions per year, the Bell Gallery highlights contemporary art while drawing on its historical collection of over 6,000 works of art. The Gallery is located in List Art Building and is open daily to students and visitors.