.The Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections are located on the ground floor of Dwight Hall

Dwight Hall

Mount Holyoke College, founded in 1837, is one of the oldest institutions devoted to the higher education women in the United States. The records of the College and the papers of its founder, Mary Lyon, document the development of the ideas and philosophy behind this unique institution of learning, as well as the founding and development of the College itself. Many of the manuscript collections in the Archives and Special Collections document the lives of the women and men who participated in and shaped the College's history. Many of these individuals went on to do work as missionaries in other parts of the United States, and in other countries around the world including Turkey, Persia, Japan, China, Africa and India. In addition to personal papers of alumnae, trustees, presidents, principals, faculty and staff, the Archives and Special Collections possess the papers of some families and individuals not directly associated with the College, significant literary figures and a collection of rare books. The Rare Book Collection is a diverse collection of books totaling approximately 18,000 volumes, and dating from 1470. While the range of subjects covered by the Rare Books collection is very broad, its strengths lie in the areas of American History, Dante's Divina commedia, children's literature, Renaissance science, fine press books and works by the College de 'pataphysique. Spread out within the various parts of the collections are also a great variety of visual images including photographs, prints, drawings and maps.

The Archives and Special Collections staff is available to assist researchers with access to and the use of the collections. The staff is also available to assist or work with Mount Holyoke College and Five College classes engaged in primary research. Researchers unfamiliar with primary research should look at the section titled "Conducting Primary Research." Experienced users of primary documents may also find this section useful, but may want to proceed directly to section on "Visiting Archives and Special Collections." Anyone interested in donating papers or transferring records from a College office or department should look at "Donating Collections to the Archives and Special Collections." If you would like to know more about the Archives and Special Collections.