The Special Collections and University Archives of FIU Libraries bring together rare and unique resources for research and scholarship in 119 collections and thousands of rare books. Founded by FIU’s first President, Charles E. Perry, as an integral part of the University Library to serve and reflect the research interests of the faculty and students, the University Archives and Special Collections has grown from its first location in the airport tower to its location on the 4th floor of the Steven and Dorothea Green Library. The collections date from the 15th to the 21st centuries and include rare books, manuscripts, pamphlets, maps, scrapbooks, photographs, personal papers, artifacts, artwork, audiovisual media, and digital resources.
Mission
Special Collections acquires, arranges, describes, preserves and provides access to rare, unique and out of print of materials and interdisciplinary collections pertaining to the geographic, national and cultural regions of Latin America, the Caribbean, Miami and Florida to augment the research needs of patrons from the University and the wider community.
University Archives serves as the repository of the official records relating to the founding, development of, and future plans for Florida International University. These documents will provide researchers, within and outside the university, information to study the activities of all facets of FIU.
