Archives and Special Collections preserves and organizes unique materials that document the history of MSU, Mississippi, the South, and beyond.
Manuscripts
Over 700 manuscript collections include individual and family papers, business records, architectural drawings, audio-visual recordings, photographs, maps and artifacts. Manuscripts Faculty & Staff
Mississippiana and Rare Books
Individually cataloged print, audiovisual, digital and other items selected for their documentation of Mississippi and Mississippians, a significant number of which are Mississippi imprints. Other types of materials housed in the division include flat maps, newspapers, prints and vertical files of ephemeral materials, and the Libraries' genealogy collections. Mississippiana and Rare Books Faculty & Staff
Genealogy and Local History
Beginning May 1, 2025, staff will only be able to respond to requests for obituaries or copies of newspaper articles until further notice due to ongoing renovations in Archives & Special Collections.
Archives and Special Collections is home to a wide variety of materials that can be used to support research on individual families, as well as the history of NorthEast Mississippi and the Golden Triangle (Starkville, Columbus and West Point, MS, and Oktibbeha, Lowndes and Clay Counties.)
These materials can be found in all divisions of Archives and Special Collections. Archives and Special Collections staff are able to perform no more than 30 minutes of research for patrons in this area. For questions that are more time-intensive, patrons will need to either visit the library to conduct the research or hire an outside researcher to assist.
To request a copy of an obituary or other newspaper article, or to request a specific records search.
To request a research consultation with library personnel.
To submit a research application and book an appointment to access A&SC materials in the Reading Room.
University Archives
Records created and collected by Mississippi State University, including presidential records, the records of administrative offices, colleges, schools and departments, official campus publications, athletic records, and university memorabilia. University Archives Faculty & Staff
Material Culture
Material culture centers around the study of objects created by humans. This collection contains a variety of artifacts documenting southern culture (and beyond) from as early as the nineteenth century to the late twentieth century. Historic clothing, accessories, artwork, dolls, needlework, and quilts are just some examples of represented objects.
