Rare Books & Print Collections

The Special Collections Research Center houses a rich and varied collection of rare books and printed materials. Highlights include: 

• Books by Kentucky authors, including The Wreath, or Verses on Various Subjects, the first book of poetry by a woman to be published in Kentucky
• Ohio River Valley frontier medical books from the Daniel Drake Print Collection 
• Print materials relating to the settlement and history of Kentucky, including numerous examples of frontier printing from the Samuel Wilson Collection
• Proceedings of the Convention of the Colored Men of Kentucky, 1866, the first Colored Convention to be held in Kentucky

To find and request the use of rare books, visit our Rare Books Requests Research Guide.

Explore over 3,000 children’s book titles using our Children's Book Collection Research Guide, or find science fiction and fantasy materials dating from the 18th century using our Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Collection Research Guide.

Find more information and unique collections in our Kentucky Authors in Special Collections Research Guide and Kentucky History Special Collections Research Guide. 

Start searching with ExploreUK or learn more about finding archival and primary source materials.