Archives and Special Collections is home to the University of Minnesota’s collections of rare books, personal papers and organizational archives. Materials, often called primary sources, include letters, diaries, organizational and business records, drafts of literary works, drawings, artifacts, maps, posters, old or rare books, photographs, architectural plans, audio visual recordings, and electronic records, to name just a few.

Archives and Special Collections is housed in the Elmer L. Andersen Library on the west bank of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.