Distinctive Collections news
Child Drama Collection renamed to Theatre for Youth and Community Collection
A recent name change is bringing new energy to a renowned ASU Library collection. The ASU Library’s Child Drama Collection was renamed the Theatre for Youth and Community Collection. Founded in 1979, the collection is the world's largest archival repository of manuscripts, ephemera and educational m...
Honoring the legacy of David William Foster and Latin American scholarship
The legacy of renowned ASU professor and Latin American scholar David William Foster will be celebrated with an upcoming lecture and a new collection coming soon to the ASU Library. The ASU Library received a donation of 4,000 books and papers from Foster’s personal collections. This donation crea...
Workshop offers students the opportunity to study rare documents from New Spain
On a cold and rainy spring Chicago day, students inside the famed Newberry Library accessed an array of rare manuscripts and materials for study and discussion. The workshop, titled “New Spain at the Newberry Library: Demystifying Colonial Documents from the Ayer Collection,” took place April 22 a...
Encouraging Discovery and Learning: Acquiring Rare Books for ASU Students
That book is really old! It even smells old. When’s it from? Look at its cover! Is that leather? How'd they make that? These are some of the initial observations and questions students make when they visit Distinctive Collections with their classes...
ASU's Archival Collections Highlight Histories of Latine and Chicano History
ASU has been taking steps in showcasing historically marginalized voices from the Latine and Chicano communities. When Seonaid Valiant, curator for Latin American Studies at the ASU Library, started at ASU, the collection only had one manuscript. Now, there are books on magic, biology, art, politi...
Diving Deeper: An Artist Book's Impact on Campus and Beyond. Documenting When Distinctive Collections is Working Well
Cover of "Hold." Photo courtesy of Julie Tanaka Layer upon layer of ink. A shimmering iridescence. A poem. All describe a really big book. An exhibition. Students and classes. Global leaders. ...
Our Grand Neighbor
ASU sits about 200 miles south of one of nature’s wonders, the Grand Canyon. A river valley situated in the Colorado Plateau, the Canyon spans some 277 miles and reaches a width of nearly 18 miles at various points and a depth of over a mile. The towering, craggy, bright-orange rock has become one o...
Women's History Month: Dr. Maria Juliette Escudero, Professor of Spanish, 1948 to 1977
By Christine Marin Professor emerita and Founder of the Chicano/a Research Collection, Arizona State University It’s March, 2022, and I celebrate and welcome Women’s History Month. I recognize the remarkable scholar and distinguished linguist, Dr. Maria Juliette Escudero. ...
Diving Deeper into ASU's Rare Books and Manuscripts: Diane di Prima, Feminist Beat Poet
Diane di Prima (August 6, 1934-October 25, 2020) was a famous Beat Poet, political activist, esteemed editor and publisher within the artistic world. Her creative reach has impacted the lives of many. Publishing her first book, “This Kind of Bird Flies Backwards,” in 1958, di Prima solidified hersel...