Archives & Special Collections

50th Anniversary Celebration

Collage of items from Archives and Special Collections: a scrapbook page, a 1973 American West poster, and Miriam Palmer's apple drawings.

July 1, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of CSU Libraries Archives and Special Collections. Discover how the early efforts by History Professor Dr. James E. Hansen helped pave the way to a robust repository of more than 500 archival collections and 20,000 rare books.

Collections

Agricultural & Natural Resources Collections

Collections of unique research materials that enhance understanding of Colorado’s agrarian and natural resource heritage.

Vallecito Reservoir with low water levels during a historic drought.

Water Resources Collections

Collections from individuals and organizations that have been instrumental in the development of water resources in Colorado and the West.

Black-and-white archival photograph of  people walking through the Colorado State University Oval

University Archive

The institutional memory of CSU, which collects official copies of historically significant university records, faculty papers, photograph collections, and other materials documenting university history.

Antique manuscript written in ink on handmade paper or similarly delicate material, encased in glass

Special Collections

More than 20,000 items from antiquities to the 21st century. Subject strengths include Vietnam War literature, feminist presses, equine medicine, water, agriculture, and other topical categories.

jaguar

Manuscripts

This collecting area focuses on areas outside the University Archives, water and agricultural resources. It contains materials of regional, cultural, or historic significance of individuals and communities in Northern Colorado or affiliated with Colorado State University.

Impact

Our staff and collections empower research and creative brilliance at Colorado State University. Learners and researchers benefit immeasurably when they can partner with expert librarians and archivists to explore distinctive materials to enhance their work.

Material Spotlight

richly-colored, meticulously-shaded, hand-drawn illustration of Morello Cherries with leaves and stems
Morello Cherry, ca. 1904, by Dr. Miriam A. Palmer, Colorado State University professor of entomology and zoology, scientific artist and sculptor (1878–1977)