Honoring the History of the Brandeis Library ¿ An Insight into Brandeis` Special Collections

The Brandeis University Library-s Archives and Special Collections is a rich and varied set of rare books and unique manuscripts that spans several centuries-yet as a collection they have a comparatively short history. The foundations of the Special Collections, like the foundations of Brandeis University itself in 1948, were built by people who believed in the mission of Brandeis-to welcome faculty and students from all backgrounds-and who wanted to see the new enterprise succeed and flourish. The Brandeis Library now holds thousands of rare books and tens of thousands of linear feet of manuscript collections-the manuscript boxes laid end-to-end would stretch further than the length of the Boston Marathon. This special-edition book features sixty-of these-rare books and manuscripts from the library-s Special Collections. Full-color images accompany descriptions written by Brandeis faculty, graduate students, librarians, and scholars. The featured items include rare books, artistic wor