Mission and Staff

Mission

The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center is the principal repository for and steward of the University of Chicago Library's rare books, manuscripts, and University Archives. Its mission is to provide primary sources to stimulate, enrich, and support research, teaching, learning, and administration at the University of Chicago. Special Collections makes these resources available to a broad constituency as part of the University's engagement with the larger community of scholars and independent researchers. In pursuit of its mission, Special Collections:

• Provides unique opportunities for teaching and learning
• Provides responsive, personable, and expert public service
• Builds distinctive and unique collections
• Facilitates discovery through online access to information about all Special Collections holdings
• Promotes access to and use of Special Collections by collaborating with the Library, University, and Chicago-area special collections communities
• Collaborates with other Library units to promote preservation of the holdings of Special Collections

Contacting Us

Phone

The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center public services staff are glad to answer inquiries about hours, services, and access to the collections. For general information about Special Collections, please contact the public services staff at 773-702-8705. Questions that require consulting the collections cannot be answered by telephone.

Online

Please submit your specific questions that require consulting the collections in writing using the Special Collections reference service form. Priority for responding to these inquiries is given to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Chicago, whose questions are usually answered within 1-2 days. Questions from those outside the University of Chicago are handled as staff time permits; written responses are normally provided within 3-4 weeks.

Staff