Thank you for visiting
Special Collections,
a division of Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.
Guest Guidelines
Reviewing our guidelines will allow you to plan your time with us more efficiently.

Selected Topics

o African-American Studies
o Art
o Bureau of Gov'l Research
o Business
o Carnival
o Dissertations & theses
o Education
o Family History
o Food and Restaurants
o Jazz Oral History
o Jewish Studies
o Journalism
o LA Inspector Gen'ls Index
o Literature
o Maps
o Mardi Gras
o Medicine
o Military History
o Music, Dance, Theater
o Politics
o Political Ephemera
o Robinson Atlas
o Science and Technology
o Science Fiction & Fantasy
o Social Welfare
o Waterways
o Women
o
World War I
o
World's Fairs

 

 

Departments

o Architectural Archives
o
Jazz Archives
o
Louisiana Collection
o
Manuscripts Department
o Rare Books
o
University Archives
Guest Resources
o Are you from out of town?
o Policies & Procedures
o
How to Find Us
o Campus Map
o Campus Housing
o Jurassic Parking
o We recommend!

 

 

About Us

o Proper Citation
o Online Exhibits
o
Publications
o
Speaker's Bureau
o Special Events
o Archives 101
o Internet Resources
o Meet our staff
o Library Friends
o Today in History
o We need your help.

Contact Us

Leon C. Miller, CA
Manuscripts Librarian
Special Collections
Jones Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans LA
70118-5682
Ph: 504/865-5685
Fx: 504/865-5761
lmiller@tulane.edu

 

The background design is "Blackthorn," a William Morris wallpaper design from 1879. Morris founded Kelmscott Press in 1891 to publicize his designs and promote his design philosophy, and Special Collections has a Kelmscott Press collection.

o Disclaimer

Gifts of Knowledge

To preserve our past for future generations, Special Collections depends on the help of persons interested in preserving the unique culture of Louisiana. If you know of  letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, or other Louisiana books or documents that should be saved for future students and scholars, please contact us.

"What kinds of materials does Special Collections preserve?"

A partial list of areas in which we specialize is at left under "Special Topics," but to summarize, we acquire, preserve, and make available to the public publications and original documents about any aspect of Louisiana from its founding to the present, from anthropology to zoology. These can include original letters, diaries, scrapbooks, minutes, reports, and publications such as books, magazines, menus, brochures, flyers, and campaign literature.

Examples from our holdings include:

  • Letters by New Orleans Mayor Victor H. Schiro, Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, Members of Congress Hale and Lindy Boggs, and Louisiana Governors Sam Jones and David Treen

  • Letters and diaries written by soldiers in the Mexican-American War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the first and second Iraq conflicts.

  • Scrapbooks from women's clubs, social organizations, and Tulane students

  • Minutes and reports from women's clubs, Masonic lodges, music societies, churches and synagogues, Carnival krewes, and civic and professional associations

  • Books and magazines about Louisiana or by Louisiana authors.

  • Menus and cookbooks from Louisiana restaurants and clubs, by Louisiana cooks and chefs, or about Louisiana cooking, and booklets, brochures and flyers from Louisiana restaurants, cooking schools, food industries, and other food related institutions. We especially need donations of Louisiana menus and cookbooks.

  • Architectural records of Louisiana, including original project drawings, specifications, photographs, correspondence, and the personal papers of architects.

  • Carnival invitations, admit cards, dance cards, and other printed Carnival items.

  • Brochures, pamphlets, programs, and flyers about Louisiana such as campaign literature, art gallery opening invitations, museum brochures, state park pamphlets, and music and meeting programs.


If you know of  letters, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs, or other documents illuminating Louisiana's past, please contact us so we can help ensure that they are preserved.

  • In addition to personal papers like letters and diaries, we can also work with your social, civic, fraternal, or professional organization to preserve its minutes, reports, and other organizational records.

  • We would also be grateful for donations of Louisiana brochures, pamphlets, flyers, campaign literature,  menus, and books.

  • For materials that might fall outside of our collecting criteria, we can work with you to find a more appropriate professional archival, library, or museum facility.


The Society of American Archivists, the world's oldest and largest professional archival organization, has several resources to help donors understand archival work and the issues involved in donating to archives:

Guide to Donating Your Personal or Family Papers to a Repository Guide to Donating Your Organizational Records to a Repository
A Guide to Deeds of Gift

We also need:

 

Please do not donate:
  • severely damaged or heavily underlined books

  • current newspapers (except on specialized topics)

  • inspirational literature

  • old textbooks, particularly in the sciences

  • laboratory and repair manuals

  • most artifacts (objects)

  • workbooks

  • and photocopies.


You may also purchase something for Special Collections.

For example, if you wish to remember a friend who has a special interest in Louisiana, our Louisiana Collection Librarian will select a book in the price range you specify. This saves you the trouble of selecting an item and ensures that your donation will not duplicate something we already have. We will be happy to discuss a selection with you.


How to make a donation:

  • First, contact the head of Special Collections, Bill Meneray (504-865-5685; meneray@tulane.edu), who will discuss your donation and let you know of any special circumstances regarding your gift.

  • Box books and other items before bringing them to the library.

  • For large donations, we can provide limited pickup services in the New Orleans area when given reasonable advance notice.

Please send financial donations to the Assistant Library Dean for Special Collections:

Wilbur E. Meneray
Special Collections, Jones Hall
Tulane University
New Orleans LA 70118


Please note:

Gifts not appropriate for our collection can still benefit Special Collections by selling them and using the money to purchase books we do need, or by exchanging them with another library or vendor.  In this way, even gifts that we cannot use directly are still helpful and appreciated.


Your gifts to the library are tax deductible.
  • All gifts to the library are considered charitable donations.

  • If you claim a deduction of more than $5,000 for a non-cash gift, you will need an appraisal. The library or its employees cannot provide appraisals under IRS rules; however, we can help you locate a qualified appraiser.

  • Since tax laws change from time to time, we encourage you to seek advice from a knowledgeable tax consultant about current requirements.


You may also make a major gift:

  • Major gifts can include bequests made through a will; deferred gifts that provide you or others with a life income and then benefit the library; and outright gifts, such as cash or marketable securities.

  • Your gift can also add to or create an endowed fund that keeps the principal intact and uses only the income. Special Collections has several endowed funds to which you can contribute; or, we can establish a new endowed fund for a minimum of $20,000 in your name or the name of someone you wish to memorialize.

  • Tulane's Office of Planned Gifts will be happy to discuss such gifts with you. Please contact their office to learn more.

Tulane University Office of Planned Gifts
3439 Prytania Street, Suite 200
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 865-5794 or toll free (800) 999-0181
fax (504) 862-8570

Original 1882 watercolor float design
for the Carnival Krewe of Proteus.

Click the image to see the original drawing and to
learn more about the 1882 Proteus Carnival parade and ball.


Special Collections
is a division of
Howard-Tilton Memorial Library

updatedThursday, January 24, 2008 03:31 PM
We welcome your comments and suggestions.