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

10am - 4am
View all hours of the Special Collections and University Archives
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)
Request Research Assistance
 

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. 

 

REQUEST DIGITIZATION AND PERMISSIONS
We encourage robust use of our collections in support of research, teaching and learning, scholarship, and creative endeavors. Digitization, reproductions, and permissions are available upon request. 
Reproductions and Permissions
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

Events

Upcoming Events

Latest News

Justin Spence and Elizabeth Peterson standing against a backdrop of campus greenery.

Oregon Digital Newspaper Program Awarded NEH Funding

The University of Oregon Libraries has been named one of 97 award recipients in the latest round of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funding. The award will support ODNP's efforts to digitize 100,000 pages of historic newspaper content, greatly expanding and diversifying our state's presence in the Library of Congress' Chronicling America collection.
Illustration of elder Native American woman in traditional dress sitting next to a campfire with a child wearing contemporary clothes. (Courtesy of BTAA).

Indigenous North Americans Ebook Collection Launched by BTAA (external link)

The Big Ten Academic Alliance's Center for Library Programs announces the expansion of the Big Ten Open Books project with the publication of its second 100-book collection. Exploring the history, culture, religion, and resilience of Indigenous populations from the 15th century to present day, these high-quality scholarly works first published by the partnering university presses are now made openly available in digital form.
Le Yang standing in front of Knight Library with red brick and green foliage in background.

Le Yang, UO Libraries' AVPUL Receives Fulbright Award (external link)

Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian for Collections, Discovery, and Digital Strategy Le Yang is one of four UO faculty members to receive Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards for the 2025-26 academic year. As a Fulbright Specialist in Taiwan, he'll work with Taipei Medical University’s library incorporating AI-enhanced search tools and LLMs.