Special Collections and Archives

Special collections and archives

Special Collections and Archives

The University Library's Special Collections and Archives play a vital role in research, teaching, learning, and community engagement and contain rare, fragile, vulnerable, archival and culturally sensitive material. Explore our unique and significant collections, in both digital and physical forms, of rare books and thematic collections, manuscripts and personal archives, university archives, as well as art and heritage objects. 

Art and Heritage

Learn more
Image of the Edith Lungly Window showing a beautiful stained glass window of a man and a bird using blue, yellow, green, red and sandstone colours.

Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Library

Learn more
Black and white photo of Bob Hawke waving to a crowd with some media present taking photos of him.

Manuscripts and Personal Papers

Learn more
A collection of manuscripts and personal papers showing written letters and different coloured papers.

Rare and Thematic Collections

Learn more
Photo of some rare books open on a table showing one with detailed illustrations of plants.

University Archives

Learn more
Images from University Archives

Adelaide Connect

Browse digitised content from Special Collections and Archives.

Adelaide Connect
Image of a book in the Rare Book Collection with gold detail, a blue background and various insects (a cricket, beetle, moth)

Accessing and using the collections

The University Library's collections are open to all researchers, including staff and students of Adelaide University and other institutions. Professional historians, researchers, and members of the public are also welcome.

How to access and use the collections

Contact us