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Course & Subject Guides

Bleak House - Oakland Campus: ULS Primary Sources

This guide is designed to accompany Dr. Amy Murray Twyning's ENGLIT1913 Advanced Research in Literature: Bleak House.

Welcome to Special Collections

The Special Collections Department is the general designation for rare books, general manuscripts, and special collections which belong to the University of Pittsburgh. Established in 1966, the collections consists of over 52,000 physical volumes, 560 linear feet of manuscripts and archives, 13,000 photographs, 500,000 theatre programs, and various slides, microfilms, posters, recordings, ephemera, and memorabilia. Materials collected by the Special Collections Department are housed in both Hillman Library and the Library Collections Storage Unit (LCSU) in Point Breeze. 

Visiting Special Collections, Hillman Library

Our responsibility for proper care of the unique materials entrusted to us requires us to institute the following safeguards in the reading room:

  • Prospective users of rare books or manuscript collections must complete a registration form on your first visit
  • Special Collections allows the use of loose sheets of note paper, note cards,or a laptop computer. You will be requested to place any items not permitted in the Reading Room in the key operated storage lockers, such as brief cases, backpacks, tote bags, purses, and laptop bags.
  • The use of pens is prohibited, but we will be more than happy to supply you with a pencil.
  • As a courtesy to other researchers, we ask that all cell phones be set to silent/vibrate.
  • Scanning equipment may not be used in the reading room, although digital cameras are permitted with permission on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to complete and submit a digital camera log.
  • Materials will not be retrieved within 30 minutes of closing. All materials must be returned 15 minutes before closing.  Upon request, materials may be held on reserive in the Reading Room.

Special Collections Resources

Contact Us

Special Collections Department

363 Hillman Library

3960 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: 412-648-8190

Fax 412-648-7887

Email: uls-specialcollections@mail.pitt.edu

Hours:
M-F: 9:00am-4:45pm