Special Collections
Special Collections in the Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library gathers, preserves, and publicly shares primary sources to advance teaching, learning, scholarship, and community engagement in service to the University of West Georgia (UWG), the regional community, scholars, and members of the general public. At UWG, Special Collections is the repository for primary sources such as archival collections, rare books, and other unique materials.
Some of the materials held in Ingram Library’s Special Collections contain images and language that is euphemistic, racist, homophobic, transnegative, sexist, ableist, or that demeans the humanity of people in other ways.
The significant collecting areas of Special Collections are central and responsive to the research, teaching, and learning priorities at the University of West Georgia and include the University Archives, West Georgia Regional History & Culture, Georgia's Political Papers and Oral History Program, and Psychology collections with particularly topical specialities in Humanistic Psychology and Exceptional Human Experiences.
Additionally, Special Collections recognizes and honors other historical organizations and individuals who also gather, preserve, and make public primary source materials. As a partner, Special Collections has a Community Archives program that offers opportunities for community members to tell their stories and to facilitate the preservation of these stories. The Community Archives program helps in the creation and care of archives representative of the people and free of the traditional institutional repository.
Special Collections is free and open to members of the public on Monday-Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. It is closed to researchers on Friday. Special Collections is located on the ground floor of Ingram Library and can be accessed either using the elevator or taking the marble staircase down from the main lobby.
It is advisable to call ahead to schedule a research visit. Please call (678) 839-5455 or email special@westga.edu for more information.