Rare Books |
Conwellana-Templana |
Contemporary Culture |
Science Fiction | 
Dance Collection |
The Special Collections Department of the Temple University Libraries is located on the mezzanine level of Paley Library. The department represents four library units: Rare Books and Manuscripts, the Contemporary Culture Collection, the Conwellana-Templana Collection, (the University Archives) and the Philadelphia Dance Collection.
Other Temple collections include the Urban Archives and the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection.
Thomas M. Whitehead
Head of Special Collections
Paley Library, Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Tel:(215)-204-8230, Fax:(215)-204-5201
Paley Library, Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Tel:(215)-204-8230, Fax:(215)-204-5201
Policies
Materials in the collections do not circulate, although some allowance is made for Inter-Library Loan. Photocopying and photography services are available at fees. Temple participates by membership in ARL, OCLC, PALINET, and RLG (RLIN). Current national printed and manuscript cataloging is performed in RLIN.Introduction to Special Collections
Rare Books and Manuscripts
Situated in the Walter Hausdorfer Rare Book Room, the Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection is the repository and collecting unit for the early, rare, scarce and valuable printed books, the manuscript and archival collections not collected by other Special Collections units,the Prints and Drawings, Photographs, and Artifacts Collections.Paskow Science Fiction Collection
The Paskow Collection was established as a research collection in 1972, when the Library received 5,000 books from the personal library of the late David C. Paskow, a graduate of the master's program in education at Temple. His collection forms the core of the Paskow Science Fiction Collection, which grows actively through gifts and purchases.Contemporary Culture Collection
The materials in the Contemporary Culture Collection (CCC) are produced by alternative, independent, and small literary publishers, political organizations of the far left and right, social reform and liberation movement organizations, alternative life-style and energy advocates, and radicals in the professions.The Conwellana-Templana Collection: The University Archives
Established in 1946 as a memorial to University founder Russell H. Conwell, the Conwellana-Templana Collection has been broadened since 1965 to function as the University Archives. The Collection provides access to Minutes of the Board of Trustees, Papers of the Presidents and other administrators, the records of various University committees, publications that reflect student life, and many other sources of information on campus activity.The Philadelphia Dance Collection
The Philadelphia Dance Collection is a collaborative initiative of the Temple University Libraries, the Esther Boyer College of Music and Department of Dance, and the Philadelphia dance communities. Developed by former Curator Mary E. Edsall, the PDC is an administrative part of the Special Collections Department and is housed in the Paley Library at Temple University. The Philadelphia Dance Collection is dedicated to preserving and providing access to the dance legacy of the Philadelphia region through: the development of a permanent collection of multi-format archival resources related to the history of Philadelphia dance; by documenting movement events as they occur within the diverse Philadelphia dance communities; and by educating the local artistic communities as to the inherent value of dance heritage preservation.Any questions? Please contact Thomas M. Whitehead
Stymean Karlen, Artist (ON-LINE EXHIBITION)
An exhibition of the poetry and paintings of dramatist, poet and artist Stymean Karlen, 1905-1998, New York, London, LaJolla. On the occasion of the completion of her biography, FOREVER AND AFTER, by David Weiss.
(Paintings courtesy of David Weiss, photography and imaging by Robert R. Campbell, LaJolla, CA)
Visit Stymean Karlen pages, provided through the generosity and hard work of Heng You and Yi Wei.