The Special Collections Division acquires, preserves, and provides access to rare and unique scholarly resources. Officially founded in 1978, the Division serves as a scholarly resource for students, faculty, and staff of the University of Miami, and local, regional, national, and international scholars and researchers.

The Special Collections Division houses an outstanding array of scholarly resources including collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, prints, broadsides, posters, audio-visual materials, newspapers and journals, and other research materials.

The Division now maintains approximately 50,000 rare books and publications; 500 manuscript collections (representing 10,500 linear feet of materials); 100,000 photographs; 5,000 maps; 2,000 architectural drawings; and 3,500 linear feet of University Archives to support the teaching and research interests of faculty and students.