The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library administers over
13 million manuscripts, 3.6 million items in the University archives, and
325,000 rare books, as well as approximately 5,000 maps, over 4,000
broadsides; more than 250,000 photographs and small prints; over 8,000
reels of microfilm; and substantial holdings of audio recordings, motion
picture films, and ephemera.
The major emphasis of the Department’s collections are American history and
literature, with additional substantive collections in Virginiana, British
literature, African-American history, book arts, the history of sporting
and World War I, among others.
In addition, the library serves as the University Archives, holding records
of historic significance to UVA.