Reading room with windows along one wall in Special Collections and University Archives

Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA)

About the Library

Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) plays a vital role in shaping the future by preserving the past. We collect, preserve, and catalog a wide range of materials, including rare books, personal and family papers, organizational archives, Oregon-related documents, visual materials, and historical records of the University of Oregon. These resources are made available for research and learning, offering valuable access to the UO community and scholars worldwide.

Today’s Hours

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Map of the Knight Library.

Location and Contact

Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA)

Paulson Reading Room
Knight Library, 2nd floor North

1501 Kincaid St. 
Eugene, OR 97403
Google Map

Email: spcarref@uoregon.edu (preferred)

Phone: 541-346-3068 (voicemail only)
 

SCUA Resources

EXPLORE COLLECTIONS
SCUA is home to rich collections including rare books, manuscripts, audio-visual materials and University Archives.
Searching for Collections
PLAN A VISIT
We are open to all members of the UO community and the general public. We require all patrons to register and request materials at least five business days in advance of their visit. 
Learn more about Visiting
BRING YOUR CLASS TO SCUA
Our instructional sessions offer your students the opportunity to work with rare and archival materials in a hands-on and engaging environment. Visit for a single session, or collaborate with SCUA faculty on assignments and scaffolded series. 
Learn more about Instruction

Search Special Collections and University Archives

For more information about searching and accessing our materials, see our Searching for Collections page. 

ACCESS ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
Detailed guides to our archival materials are available in our finding aid database. With this discovery tool you can browse, search, and filter all of our unique materials (manuscripts, photographs, architectural drawings, audiovisual items, and university archives).
Finding Aids
EXPLORE DIGITAL RESOURCES
Special Collections has digitized photographs, documents, audiovisual material, newspapers, theses, and dissertations available for research.  Research guides and digital exhibits are also available. 
Digital Resources
A researcher looking at a book with a magnifying glass

Fellowships and Student Opportunities

SCUA offers funding and onsite internships for researchers, students and our global community. 

Discover Opportunities

170,000+
collection items
1,300+
students taught every year
$23,500
offered in research funding per year

To learn more about our work and get updates on research, new acquisitions and opportunities, read and subscribe to our blog, Unbound. 

Events

Upcoming Events

Latest News

exhibit of materials from the journal Sovetish Heymland

New exhibit in Knight Library! (external link)

The UO Libraries and the UO Judaic Studies Program invite you to explore Sovetish Heymland and the Making of Socialist Yiddish Culture after Stalin. This exhibition celebrates the recently gifted Sovetish Heymland journal, generously donated by Esther Frank. Enriching UO’s collections, the journal offers a unique window into Jewish/Yiddish cultural history under Soviet rule. Located in the lobby of Knight Library, this exhibit will be on display through April 18.
small gallery space with fabric and items on display

Accepting Proposals for UO Libraries Tiny Galleries! (external link)

The UO Libraries Tiny Galleries Team invites UO students to submit proposals for site-specific installations in Knight Library and the Design Library. Showcase your coursework and research through 3D or 2D installations, transforming spaces into immersive experiences while engaging with the campus community and academic discourse.