University of Miami Special Collections

University of Miami Special Collections Special Collections is located on the 8th floor of the Richter Library.

We provide access to rare and unique scholarly resources including books, manuscripts, maps and photographs. Special Collections is located in the Kislak Center on the 1st Floor of the Richter Library.

We had a blast at this year's ! Special Collections Coordinator Robin Potter brought a small selection of zines across a...
04/07/2026

We had a blast at this year's ! Special Collections Coordinator Robin Potter brought a small selection of zines across a few of our zine collections: (Latin American & Caribbean, Firefly Miami, Reggae Fanzines, and some classic early examples such as Punk! And Search and Destroy). It was amazing to connect with so many creative people and be a part of this tradition again! Zines that many of you donated (thank you!) will be added to the archival finding aid by title, link in bio.

New acquisition alert! A set of tintypes of Latin American sitters (locations unspecified), c. 1870s-1880s. "A collectio...
02/10/2026

New acquisition alert! A set of tintypes of Latin American sitters (locations unspecified), c. 1870s-1880s. "A collection of tintypes from the late nineteenth century. Tintype photography was quite uncommon in Latin America during the period, with photography dominated by the albumen, silver, and printing-out processes of the major urban studios." -description from Auger Down Books

These are intriguing and mysterious images of locals, perhaps not all from one location in Latin America, though it looks like the first two images were taken in front of the same backdrop. In general, tintypes were inexpensive compared to earlier glass plate processes, which meant that a wider variety of people could afford to sit for a portrait. They were cherished objects, cut to place into frames and albums, but the metallic substrate also rusted, corroded, and scratched easily, resulting in the lines and cracks seen in these images. It's a fascinating glimpse into the past, and perhaps some intrepid researcher will help us discover more about these individuals! Do you recognize anyone?

We very much enjoyed welcoming Israel Ayobami Ogundumila to the Kislak Center a couple weeks back, as our newest Abrams-...
02/09/2026

We very much enjoyed welcoming Israel Ayobami Ogundumila to the Kislak Center a couple weeks back, as our newest Abrams-Banning Pan Am Travel Grant winner. A current PhD candidate at the University of Kansas, Israel focused his time here on researching Pan Am's role within the history of aviation in mid-twentieth century West Africa. Israel will be returning virtually to present about his work and his findings in the near future. Stay tuned for more info soon!

Pictured here with Professor Edmund Abaka, PhD, Associate Director of the Center for Global Black Studies and with Bea Skokan, Head of Manuscripts and Archives Management and Africana Studies Liaison, as well as Special Collections Librarian Robin Potter, and Kislak Chair & Curator Daniel Arbino, PhD.

Join the inaugural research fellow of the Jay I. Kislak Collection, Robert C. Schwaller, for an online showcase and pres...
01/27/2026

Join the inaugural research fellow of the Jay I. Kislak Collection, Robert C. Schwaller, for an online showcase and presentation moderated by Jay I. Kislak Chair and Curator Daniel Arbino.

Robert C. Schwaller, Ph.D. is Professor of Latin American History at the University of Kansas. During his month-long residency in the Kislak Center, Schwaller worked extensively with the Kislak Collection to advance his research on the history and legacy of maroon communities in the Americas—societies formed by people who escaped enslavement and established independent settlements across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Dr. Schwaller will share his recent findings and discuss how the collection has supported and enriched his ongoing scholarship.

Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A with the online audience. For more information and to register for this free online presentation, see the link in our bio.

Image from the photobook El Cimarrón y su Fandango by Mara Sánchez Renero (KAHL Editions, 2022)

Are you looking for a full-time library staff position? Do you love exploring rare book and archival materials and helpi...
01/13/2026

Are you looking for a full-time library staff position? Do you love exploring rare book and archival materials and helping others access these amazing resources? The Special Collections at the University of Miami Libraries has an opening for a Research Services and Projects Assistant to assist with a variety of activities and projects in this small but active department. This is a great role for someone with curiosity and organizational skill who is interested in learning more about library work among these truly unique collections. See the link in our bio for more info and to apply!

Call for applications: The Jay I. Kislak Research Fellowship and Artist-in-Residence.Applications accepted in English or...
12/19/2025

Call for applications: The Jay I. Kislak Research Fellowship and Artist-in-Residence.

Applications accepted in English or Spanish through Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Housed in the Special Collections at the University of Miami Libraries, Jay I. Kislak Collection of the Early Americas, Exploration and Navigation at the University Libraries houses a large repository that focuses on cultural encounters and their legacies across the Americas. These materials include rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and cultural artifacts. As the Collection continues to grow, and in an effort to honor the original landmark gift, it now also includes contemporary artists’ books and zines that document modern-day cultural encounters in the Americas.

The Jay I. Kislak Research Fellowship and Artist-in-Residence program is made possible through a generous endowment provided by the Kislak Foundation to promote the Collection’s use through scholarly and artistic pursuits.

Research Fellowship

Research fellowships will support doctoral candidates and faculty who wish to use the Kislak Collection at the University Libraries as a primary resource for a dissertation or scholarly work. Fellowships of $4,500 per month will be granted for periods of one to two consecutive months, depending on the range of materials the applicant wishes to consult and the centrality of Kislak materials to their research.

Artist-in-Residence

Residencies of up to two months will support those who wish to use the Kislak Collection to advance their artistic practice. The artist can be at any stage of their career and in any discipline, such as literary, visual, and performing arts. The artist-in-residence will collaborate with the Kislak Collection and Special Collections to create works inspired by our materials. The program requires that all drafts, edited iterations, interviews, sketches, etc., be added to the Libraries’ collection. The artist will retain intellectual control over the final work(s). The artist-in-residence will receive a stipend of $4,500 per month.

See the link in our bio to find out more and apply!

Today we laid out a fascinating variety of archival materials, rare books, zines, small press magazines, photographs and...
12/09/2025

Today we laid out a fascinating variety of archival materials, rare books, zines, small press magazines, photographs and more, relating to Black life and activism across South Florida and beyond, for a tour in collaboration with the history department here at UM. We always love helping visitors discover more about our collections and the many intersecting histories we are entrusted with here in the Kislak Center.

It's beginning to look a lot like...Surrealism? Here is a glimpse of a lovely new acquisition we unwrapped this week in ...
11/21/2025

It's beginning to look a lot like...Surrealism? Here is a glimpse of a lovely new acquisition we unwrapped this week in the Special Collections: Une Semaine de Bonté (=A Week of Kindness) by Max Ernst. Completed in 1933 and published in 1934 as this five volume set, this is a famous early "collage novel" by a prolific artist involved with the surrealist movement across the Atlantic. Only 816 or so of this first edition were printed, and it's rare to find one in the original cardboard case, so we snapped it up as an inspiring addition for our collections relating to the arts.

We love the way Ernst used collage very subtly to manipulate a variety of archival images, such as engraved illustrations from novels, advertisements, fashion plates and more. He gave each volume a theme and a narrative arc, creating a very odd, funny, and moving new work that still feels strikingly modern.

Une Semaine de Bonté could represent potential research possibilities and/or inspiration for creative works across disciples, for students and the public alike! Like all our materials, once it's been officially added to the collections and cataloged, this book will be available to the public by appointment in the Kislak Center reading room.

Special Collections and Archives folks have been so so busy this semester, in the best way! We've hosted classes such as...
11/07/2025

Special Collections and Archives folks have been so so busy this semester, in the best way! We've hosted classes such as Photography, Illustration/Design, English Grad Practicum, Latin American Studies, French, Environmental Humanities, First Year Writing, and more! What a blur.

Was there ever a time we weren't selecting materials and setting up the classroom to share the bounty with visiting classes? Perhaps, long ago and far away 🤩

We host classes (with a few weeks of advance notice) for UM faculty, but are also happy to hear from other local colleges and organizations interested in visiting! And as always, we are open to the public, so individuals or pairs can schedule a time to sit with a smaller set of materials in our reading room. More info about how to schedule a visit, and our policies, at the link in our bio!

While we're posting about our amazing Abrams Banning Pan Am researchers, please join us on Thursday November 13 at 1:00p...
11/03/2025

While we're posting about our amazing Abrams Banning Pan Am researchers, please join us on Thursday November 13 at 1:00pm Eastern time for a remote presentation by our previous Abrams Banning Grantwinner, Dr. Silke Zoller, who joined us in the Kislak Center in the spring of 2025. She will present on her research entitled "Is This the Plane to Havana? Hijacking and the Beginning of Airport Security in the 1960s."

Dr. Zoller (image 2) is an Assistant Professor of History at Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on international efforts to prevent non-state violence. Her book To Deter and Punish: Global Collaboration Against Terrorism in the 1970s was published by Columbia University press in 2021. She has a PhD from Temple University, and has held post-doctoral fellowships at the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College and the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin.

Please register at the link in our bio for this remote presentation, moderated by Special Collections Librarian Robin Potter (image 3, but most likely without the face paint!)

We are very pleased to announce that Israel Ayobami Ogundumila is the winner of the next Dave Abrams and Gene Banning Pa...
11/03/2025

We are very pleased to announce that Israel Ayobami Ogundumila is the winner of the next Dave Abrams and Gene Banning Pan Am Research Grant. We look forward to welcoming Israel to the Kislak Center in Spring 2026!

Holding a bachelor's degree in history and diplomacy from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria, and a master's degree in history from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Israel is currently a PhD student in the Department of History at the University of Kansas. His research lies at the intersection of technology, science, and society, with a focus on aviation history. Using aviation technology as a lens, he examines the complex and nuanced dynamics of Africa's socioeconomic history by drawing on insights from multiple historical subfields. He explores how aviation shaped West Africa's socioeconomic landscape in the 20th century. Ultimately, his work aims to provide a fresh perspective on the relationship between technology and Society within the broader framework of African history.

His research in the Kislak Center will explore the strategic and diplomatic methods used by Pan Am and the U.S. government to secure a foothold in West Africa during World War II. He will examine how the technical infrastructures established during this period, which include landing fields, wireless communication networks, meteorological services, and other technical facilities, formed a solid foundation for post-colonial aviation systems in West Africa, contributing to broader discourses on international relations, imperialism, and decolonization.

For more about the Abrams Banning Grant, generously funded by the Pan American Historical Foundation, please refer to the link in our bio.

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1300 Memorial Drive, Fl 1
Coral Gables, FL
33146

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

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