Special Collections, Rare Books, and University Archives

UPDATED: January 2021

Special Collections is operating on a limited appointment-only basis due to the measures being taken by Butler University and the state government to limit the spread of COVID-19. This policy will allow for proper social distancing within our space while also allowing us to work from home periodically to limit exposure.

We will continue to answer reference queries via email and phone from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  Queries that require accessing physical materials in the archives will be answered as soon as possible depending on staffing on-site.

Appointments need to be made at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact us to request a time to come in and view materials. Our contact information is:

• specialcollections@butler.edu, (317) 940-9136
• schildsh@butler.edu, (317) 940-9265

Appointments will be available during the following hours during the academic semester:

• Monday & Tuesday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
• Wednesday & Thursday, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
• Friday, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

For individuals not associated with Butler University, please contact us for University safety protocols that must be followed while on campus.

Please be advised that reference services could be disrupted further. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience.

For more information on services and policies offered by Butler Universities Libraries during this time, please refer to the latest update. For more information on COVID-19, please check out this Butler University Libraries LibGuide.

Looking Beyond the Glass: 19th and 20th Century African Art

Tatum Turner, BU Class of 2021

Butler University Libraries is hosting an exhibit on the African art of the Eiteljorg collection, which is under the stewardship of the Butler Arts Committee. The exhibit provides a glimpse at the contextual history behind the African art on campus and how it came to reside at Butler. A digital version of this exhibit has been made possible through a partnering with the Digital Scholarship Lab and the Center for Academic Technology. Artifacts not available for display in the physical exhibit are on display in this digital space. The digital exhibit may be accessed through this link. 

Special Collections is located on the third floor of Irwin Library. 

For more information about the Butler’s Digital Collections, visit the online catalog.