Columbia University: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Columbia University: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th St.
New York, NY 10027, United States
Located in Butler Library, the Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) is Columbia's principal repository for rare and unique materials, with holdings that span four thousand years of recorded knowledge, from cuneiform tablets to early printed books and born-digital archives. Each year RBML welcomes thousands of researchers and visitors to their reading room, exhibitions, programs, and classrooms.

Collection Sampling

Office of Public Affairs Photograph Collection, 1947-2016

This collection is a combination of several different accessions of prints, negatives, contact sheets, color slides and digital files that were created by the University Photographer and others in the Columbia University Office of Public Affairs. The collection documents many events held on campus (e.g., commencement, homecoming, 1968 protests), the Morningside campus, individuals (faculty, student athletes), and sporting events.
Collection ID: 9628774 UA#0109

Pantheon Books records, 1944-1968

The editorial and production files of Pantheon Books from 1944 through 1968. The correspondence from authors, agents, and publishers is written to Kurt and Helen Wolff, Jacques Schiffrin, André Schiffrin, and the editors of the firm. The files document the publication of works by A. Alvarez, Georges Bernanos, Hermann Broch, Jacob Burckhardt, Albert Camus, William Demby, Eugene Ionesco, Karl Jaspers, Winifred Bryher, Jacques Maritain, Isamu Noguchi, José Ortega y Gasset, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Sir Herbert Read, Ben Shahn, and others.

Collection ID: 4079194 MS#0970

Abram S. Hewitt papers, 1839-1852

The material is an elaborately calligraphic 19th century script and extends to one file box and 14 bound volumes. Professor Allan Nevins used this material for his work on Abram S. Hewitt.

Collection ID: 4078891 MS#0586

Vakhan Fomich Totomiants Memoirs, 1929-1955

Typescript memoirs of Totomi︠a︡nt︠s︡. The longest piece "Iz moikh vospominaniĭ" (156 p.), is a copy of Totomi︠a︡nt︠s︡'s memoirs under the same title (Sofia, Bulgaria, 1943). It discusses his studies in Western Europe; his years as a journalist in Russia around the turn of the century; his work with the cooperative movement in Russia and Europe; and his years in emigration after the 1917 revolution. Also included is a short essay entitled "Kooperativnaia poezdka v Rumynii︠u︡" and four other brief pieces on major economists and scholars whom he knew: Werner Sombart, Luigi Luzzatt, Charles Gide, and Aleksandr A. Chuprov. There is a clipping of an article from a French periodical about Totomi︠a︡nt︠s︡.

Collection ID: 4078164 Bar Gen Ms Coll/Totomi︠a︡nt︠s︡

Benjamin Salzer - Mayor's Court papers, 1681-1864

The papers begin in 1681 with the appeal of Capt. Palmer from a decision of the Mayor's Court and conclude with a suit brought on Sept. 24, 1819 by one Leggett. Large quantities of returns of writs of inquiry, especially during 1770-1775, are present as well as numerous legal opinions by government officials. The papers are largely pleadings of attorneys, occasional briefs or abstracts of arguments but relatively few judgments or decrees. Endorsements on the papers frequently convey the treatment of the case in Court.

Collection ID: 4079291 MS#1101

Dolores Prida papers, 1948-2001

There are letters, photos, manuscripts, fan mail (as well as may of the actual "Dolores Dice" letters from people all over the country), recordings, and music scores of her plays. There is some unpublished work in various genres, including essays, poetry, teleplays, and theater.

Collection ID: 10721502 MS#1716

Ol'ga V. Rachinskaia Memoirs, 1976-1977

Rachinskai︠a︡'s manuscript memoirs discuss her childhood in Samara, and her education in Khvalynsk in the Saratov Oblast and Moscow. The collection includes a photograph of Rachinskai︠a︡ dated 1976 and a brief manuscript entitled "Otryvki iz moeĭ tetradi." (6 p.).

Collection ID: 4077966 BAR Gen Ms Coll/Rachinskai︠a︡

Voltaire manuscript, 1778

A single Voltaire manuscript: "Anecdotes sur l'arrivée du corps de Voltaire à Scelliers par Etienne Faireau", 1778

Collection ID: 15806206 MS#2066

Richard W. Emery papers, 9999

Collection of research materials relating to medieval France. Includes handwritten and typed transcriptions of historical materials, and some photocopies of documents. Materials in boxes relate to information found on box titles.

Collection ID: 12980251 MS#1885

New York State Crime Commission records, 1951-1953

These records were used in the investigation of waterfront crime, 1952-1953, including research, drafts and published reports of the recommendations of the Crime Commission, correspondence and memorandums, charts and financial statements, newspaper clippings, Acts pertaining to and resulting from the work of the Crime Commission; notes and transcripts of public hearing testimony, including three volumes of Ogdensburg Public Hearings held at Canton, N.Y., July 18-20, 1951.

Collection ID: 4079160 MS#0927