Special Collections

Illustration from the section, "Tercia etas mundi" in Liber Chronicarum by Hartmann Schedel.

Special Collections

The special collections of the Seeley G. Mudd Library cover a wide range in topic, age, and rarity. Our interesting and varied range greatly in topic, but are all important to the history of Lawrence, Appleton, and Milwaukee-Downer College. The library houses the following special collections, located in various locations in the building.

Milwaukee-Downer Collection

Lincoln Collection

Wisconsin Collection

Kruse Collection

Overview of the Collections

Lawrence University has four named special collections that constitute approximately 7,200 titles with particular strength in Americana of the nineteenth century, including the American Civil War, the Wisconsin Territory, and the state of Wisconsin – our Milwaukee-Downer, Civil War, Wisconsin, and the Roger Dale Kruse Collections.

Using the Collections

Items from the Kruse and Wisconsin Collections do circulate and may be checked out from the library. Items from the Lincoln and Milwaukee-Downer Collections do not circulate, but may be used in the library. To inquire about using one of these materials, contact a reference librarian or visit the reference desk.