Visiting

Collections are open to the public for use in the Judge Sarah T. Hughes Reading Room, located on the 4^th floor of Willis Library, during normal operating hours. Since many of our collections are stored off-site, patrons are advised to contact the department prior to arrival to ensure books and other collections are available for use. Reading room hours vary of the course of the year. Please check our schedule for current hours and note any exceptions.

Locating Materials

Many of the books and periodicals that comprise the Special Collections can be found in the UNT Libraries Catalog. In addition archive, manuscript, microform, photography and some special indexes to collections can be searched in our on-line finding aids. Finding aids allow you to discover and understand the content and context of materials in a collection.

The Special Collections department receives new collections on a regular basis and some of our collections are not yet cataloged. If you are having trouble finding a book or a collection one of our staff members will be happy to assist you.

Using Materials

All first-time patrons will receive an overview of our reading room policy and procedures and are required to fill out a short researcher registration form. For information on duplication, use of digital cameras in the reading room and permission for publishing archive and rare books materials please see the Policy and Forms section. 

If you would like to use Special Collections for commercial and non-profit promotional purposes, broadcast/TV/documentary, public display, exhibition, publication in print, internet or digital formats, or any other use, please complete the following Request for Reproduction and Use form.

University of North Texas Libraries 2015-2016 Research Fellowships

Special Collections Research Fellowship

The University of North Texas Libraries invites applications for the 2015 UNT Special Collections Research Fellowship. Research in special collections is relevant to studies in a variety of disciplines including history, journalism, political science, geography, fine art, art history and American studies. We encourage applicants to think creatively about new uses for special collections. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential for publication and the best use of special collections at UNT Libraries.

 The Award:

A total of $4,000 in funding will be awarded to two or more fellowship applicants. Fellowship awards are intended to defray the actual costs of conducting research and applicants must prepare a budget detailing their expenses as part of the application process. Fellows will be required to conduct research in residence at UNT for a minimum of four days and a maximum of three months to receive the award. The fellow will be required to write a brief (under 500 words) overview of their research experience and may also be asked to present an informal lecture on their research. The Special Collections Fellowship is generously supported by the Friends of the UNT Libraries.

 Eligibility:

The Fellowship is open to faculty, graduate students and independent researchers. Any funding awarded must be used between June 1, 2015 and August 30, 2016.

 Application procedure:

Applicants should demonstrate the specific relevance of UNT Special Collections to their current research through their essay and cover letter. Information on library holdings can be located through the UNT Libraries catalog, the Special Collections department website, on-line finding aids for archives and manuscript collections or by contacting the department directly at archivesrarebooks@unt.edu.

The Portal to Texas History Research Fellowship

The University of North Texas Libraries invites applications for The Portal to Texas History Research Fellowship. Research using the Portal is relevant to studies in a variety of disciplines including history, journalism, political science, geography, and American studies. We encourage applicants to think creatively about the opportunities that research with large digital library collections can enable. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate the greatest potential for publication and the best use of The Portal to Texas History.

The Award:

A total of $2,000 in funding will be awarded to one or more fellowship applicants. The Portal Fellowship was created to recognize and support outstanding scholarship which incorporates unique digital collection. Consideration will be given to any anticipated expenses as outlined in the budget, although this is just one factor that the reviewers will consider in making the awards. The fellow will be required to write a brief (under 500 words) overview of their research experience and may also be asked to present an informal lecture on their research. The Portal to Texas History Research Fellowship is funded by the Cathy N. Hartman Portal to Texas History Endowment.

Eligibility:

The Fellowship is open to faculty, graduate students, and independent researchers. Fellowship funding will be dispersed between June 1, 2015 and August 30, 2016.

Application procedure for the Special Collections and Portal to Texas History Fellowships:

Applicants should demonstrate the specific relevance of either UNT Special Collections or The Portal to Texas History to their current research through their essay and cover letter. Information on The Portal to Texas History can be located at http://texashistory.unt.edu/. Information on UNT Special Collections may be found here http://www.library.unt.edu/special-collections. If you are applying for both fellowships please submit two applications.

Deadline for applications is February 15, 2015. The recipient will be notified by April 1, 2015.

Please submit the following materials as yoru application:

• An essay (3 pages maximum) describing your research interests, specific goals for research during the Fellowship period and the specific collections intended for use. For the Special Collections Fellowship also indicate the dates that will spent in residence.
• A brief CV (3-5 pages)
• Budget detailing travel expenses such as airfare, transportation or mileage, lodging, meals or other expenses
• One letter of reference indicating the significance of the proposed research. Letters can be sent directly from the recommender or included in the application packet.

Application materials should be submitted electronically in PDF of Microsoft Word format.

Send questions and applications for the Special Collections Fellowship to Morgan Gieringer, Head of Special Collections.

Send questions and application for the Portal to Texas History Fellowship to Mark Phillips, Assistant Dean for Digital Libraries.