Harold B. Lee Library. Special Collections

In 1973 the J. Reuben Clark Jr. Library was renamed the Harold B. Lee Library. The Special Collections department of the J. Reuben Clark Jr. Library was then known as the Harold B. Lee Library, Special Collections. The head of Special Collections was Chad J. Flake (1973-1991).

By 1976 the Department of Archives and Manuscripts was operating under Special Collections.

February of 1991 Special Collections merged with the Department of Archives and Manuscripts to form the Department of Special Collections and Manuscripts.

Variant names

HBLL Special Collections

Rare Books and Special Collections

Description

Established: 1973

Abolished: 1990

Location: Provo, Utah (1973-1990)

Functions

The library's Collection Development Policy Statement for Special Collections in 1985 stated that BYU would collect, preserve and make available to the public works in several different subject areas. Subject areas held in Special Collections in 1985 were Mormonism, Americana, Utah and the West, Renaissance and Reformation, History of Printing, Victorian Collection, Edward Collection, American First Edition, Herman Melville Collection, Rowe Collection, Walt Whitman Collection, Robert Burns Collection, and the History of Science. Manuscripts were held in the Archives of the library, but additional manuscripts and rare items were held in Special Collections' vault.

Assets and Administrative Structure

In 1973 Special Collections operated under the direction of the Assistant Director for Public Services.

In 1989 Special Collections operated under the Associate University Librarian.

Associated Units

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Public Services (1973-1974)

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library (1974-1985)

Superior unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Collection Development Division (1985-1990)

Earlier unit: J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Library. Special Collections (1973)

Later unit: Harold B. Lee Library. Dept. of Special Collections and Manuscripts (1990)

Associated Archival Materials

Annual reports (UA 1015)

B.Y.U. Library collection development policy statement 1985 (UA SC 100)

Hollis Scott oral history interview (UA OH 16)

Sources

Annual Report, Sept. 1973-Aug. 1974: pg. 3, (administration names and dates)

Annual Report, 1990-1991 (1989 Administration organization)

B.Y.U. Library Collection Development Policy Statement, 1985: pg. 577-603, (Holdings of SC in 1985)

Brigham Young University Library Centennial History, 1879-1975: pg. 20-26, 51-53, 74-76, 141-142, (SC operating on fourth floor of HBLL)

History of the Perry Special Collections, (1999 SC moved to 1st floor, renamed L. Tom Perry Special Collections) http://www.lib.byu.edu/sites/sc/about

Hollis Scott Oral History Interview, Nov. 12, 1968: p. 5, (Additional manuscripts and rare items held in SC vault instead of Archives in 1968)

L. Tom Perry Special Collections Slideshow, 7 May 2003, (Head of Special Collections: Chad J. Flake {1973-1991}) http://lib.byu.edu/sites/sc/files/2008/06/sc-department-history.pdf

Library of Congress Authorities: Harold B. Lee Library Department of Archives and Manuscripts, (in Feb. 1991 Special Collections merged with the Dept. of Archives and Manuscripts to form the Dept. of Special Collections and Manuscripts) http://www.authorities.loc.gov

Harold B. Lee Library cumulative annual report, 1988 (UA 1015, box 2, folder 1): p. 2-3 (Special Collections and Manuscripts and Archives transferred to the Collection Development Division)

Maintenance Information

Record ID: EAC-2012-00003

Creator: UPB

LCCN: n 88681917