The Clements Library website includes events, exhibits, subject guides, newsletter issues, library staff, and more.

Announcements — Winter/Spring 2023

New Staff Members Kayla Robinson joins the Development Department as the Marketing Coordinator and oversees social media, updates the website, and creates a variety of print and digital marketing pieces. In a newly created position as a Development Generalist, Helen...

Evolution of an Archive

One of my favorite old saws about the difference between England and the United States goes like this: In England, 100 miles is a long way; in the U.S., 100 years is a long time. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the opening of the William L. Clements Library,...
THE CENTENNIAL ISSUE

THE CENTENNIAL ISSUE

The Clements Library has been a functioning rare book library for a century. Over the century we’ve had researchers, memories, and overall developments. There’s no way to talk about all of that — but here’s some highlights as we think about our...

Recent Acquisitions

Manuscripts The Clements recently acquired the 19-item Crow Creek Agency Collection, focusing on a Native American boarding school in Crow Creek, South Dakota. Included is a program for the 1892 Christmas celebration, which lists songs and recitations performed by the...

Mapping Research Trends in the Collections

Maps have always been an integral part of the library’s collections, starting with Mr. Clements’ early acquisitions prior to his gift to the University. Because maps reflect time, place, and author’s intent, some research themes can prove more elusive for older...

Mysteries of the Deep

We all love sea serpents, and we all love mysteries. And a recently acquired example of great lithography ticks both of those boxes. Sea Serpent Polka, composed by Moritz Strakosch (-1887). Louis Xavier Magny and Louis Audibert, lithographers. New Orleans, [1850s]. I...

Elegant to Eccentric

Years ago I had the honor of volunteering at the Clements to identify and describe historical bindings in the collection—a real delight to do so—every book held some joyful surprise. In 2007 we used the title “Elegant to Eccentric: Bindings from the Main Room of the...

Illuminating Revolutionary War America

The papers of British General Thomas Gage have been the most queried, requested, researched, and otherwise utilized materials at the William L. Clements Library—from their arrival at the Library in 1937 to the present day. A National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)...