Special Collections

Forsyth Library's Special Collections serves as the principal repository for and steward of the library's University Archives, rare books, and other unique materials which, because of their content, value, condition, rarity, or irreplaceability, are housed separately from other library collections.

Mission

Special Collections curates and provides access to unique materials to support the educational and research mission of Fort Hays State University and Forsyth Library. Further, Special Collections makes these resources available to a broader community of scholars and independent researchers. In executing this mission, Special Collections:

Provides knowledgeable, engaged, and congenial public service
Builds distinctive and unique collections
Collaborates with University and other communities to provide unique teaching and learning opportunities
Promotes access to and use of Special Collections via collaboration with other Forsyth Library departments, University entities, and other communities
Facilitates discovery through online access to information about Special Collections' materials
Curates exhibits featuring materials from Special Collections

Areas of Concentration

Research Tools

Each area of concentration contains individual collections and items, which are discoverable in the following ways:

BROWSE the Archives and Special Collections Catalog. This catalog contains finding aids for select collections, providing an overview of the collection's contents from box to folder level.
SEARCH the Forsyth Library Catalog. Begin by searching keywords for your research topic. From the results list, use the right sidebar to filter results under the “Location” heading to show only the locations with the prefix “Special Collections.”
VIEW Digital Collections to access select materials from the Special Collections that have been made digitally available.

Contribute to the Forsyth Library COVID-19 Archive

Forsyth Library is collecting COVID-19 stories from the FHSU and Ellis County Community to capture and preserve primary resource materials for the University Archives. Share stories and materials that demonstrate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected individuals, organizations, and the community, potentially relating to the stay at home order, social distancing, self-quarantine, delivery of online education, working remotely, and so forth. These stories will be made available for historical and research purposes, exhibits, and public dissemination.

Share Your Story
Submit text, photographs, journal and diary entries, and other digital evidence by using the project's submission form or by emailing forsythsc@fhsu.edu.

Contact

Though drop-ins are welcome, visitors to Special Collections, including the University Archives and Center for Ethnic Studies, are encouraged to schedule research appointments in advance with appropriate staff in order to get the most out of their experience.

Questions Regarding	Contact	Contact Information
University history Schedule a research visit to Special Collections or University Archives Donate University-related materials Transfer University Records	Amber Watts Special Collections Librarian and University Archivist	Office: FL 122 Email: akwatts2@fhsu.edu Phone: 785-628-5282
Great Plains Research Military History Rare Books Classic Children's Literature Schedule a research visit to the Center for Ethnic Studies	Patty Nicholas Library Specialist	Office: FL 112 Email: pnichola@fhsu.edu Phone: 785-628-5901
Collection development Donate research materials to Special Collections Policies and licensing	Brian Gribben Coordinator of Special Collections and Government Documents	Office: FL 212 Email: b_gribben@fhsu.edu Phone: 785-628-5511
File format, metadata, or preservation standards Takedown requests	Mary Elizabeth Downing-Turner Digital Curation Librarian	Office: FL 123A Email: medowning@fhsu.edu Phone: 785-628-5713