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UL Lafayette Special Collections

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UL Lafayette Special Collections

Welcome to the Dupré Library Special Collections & Archives page! The Ernest J. U.S.

The University Archives and Acadiana Manuscripts Collection houses the archival records of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette starting in 1900. There are also over 300 collections of personal or family papers, business or organizational records, photograph collections, oral histories and much more related to the Acadiana region of Louisiana. The Louisiana Room houses the Dupré Library's coll

ection of published materials relating to Louisiana, including all subject areas and most formats. The Rare Books Collection contains items published before 1900, and items that have intrinsic value such as limited editions or copies inscribed by the author. Gaines Center is an international center for scholarship on African-American author Ernest Gaines and his work. The Cajun and Creole Music Collection consists of over 9,000 commercial recordings, selected unpublished or field recordings and other materials on the many genres and styles of the Creole and Cajun musical cultures of Southwest Louisiana. Government Information encompasses publications compiled or created by the federal government, at government expense or as required by law. The Microforms Room contains the Dupré Library's collection of materials on microform (mostly microfilm and microfiche), including back issues of newspapers and periodicals and a variety of other materials.

05/01/2026

Exploring genealogy gives us a direct way to connect with our past and understand our roots. The Genealogy Collection in the Jefferson Caffery Reading Room is one of our most popular resources, used by visitors who want to learn more about their family histories. By using this collection, you can find out where your ancestors lived and trace the journeys that brought your family to where it is today.

The Genealogy Collection is especially strong in Cajun ancestry, which reflects our commitment to preserving the history of Southern Louisiana. If your last name is Cajun, or if you have relatives with Cajun surnames, you are likely to find meaningful connections to your family here.

Some of the most useful resources in the collection are the works of Rev. Donald Hebert, which are key for tracing families from Southern Louisiana. You can also look through records from the Catholic Church, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and documents about Confederate soldiers…just to name a few. These materials give you several ways to explore and piece together your family history.

04/17/2026

This newly added artifact is now on display in the Jefferson Caffery Reading Room as part of the exhibit on historic university furniture. The piece is a wheelchair used by the Nursing Department when the university was known as Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI), roughly between the 1920s and 1950s.

Not much is known about its exact history, but it offers a good idea of what nursing education and patient care were like at the time. The wheelchair has a wooden frame, wicker seating, and metal parts, including extendable footrests that could be adjusted to support someone with a leg injury.

This piece offers a look into how medical tools were used in the past and how much they’ve changed over the last century. It also gets you thinking about what kinds of technology were considered helpful at the time and how people in the 1920s through the 1940s approached caring for the injured.

03/20/2026

This past week brought a particularly interesting find within our collections. The Vermilion, UL Lafayette's longstanding student newspaper, has documented campus life since the institution’s earliest days. While working through the collection, we uncovered something unexpected...The Squirmilion, a satirical counterpart to The Vermilion.

Satirical student publications like this were especially popular during the 1930s, when independent campus newspapers often used humor to comment on student life, social norms, and even university leadership. These publications provided an outlet for more “unorthodox” expression, offering a playful, yet sometimes pointed, perspective on campus culture.

UL Lafayette was no exception. With The Squirmilion, students created their own space for satire, adding a unique and entertaining layer to the university’s print history.

What makes discoveries like this especially meaningful is the reminder that history is not only a record of how life looked 90 years ago, but also how familiar it can feel today. Even in very different times, there was still a need for humor, for commentary, and for finding lightness in everyday life, something that continues to resonate just as strongly now.

03/06/2026

Did you know? 📼🏈
Archives preserve more than just papers and artifacts; they also hold materials in many formats, including VHS tapes. Our university archives include VHS recordings of historical UL Lafayette football games played against other schools.

Just over 20 years ago, VHS tapes were a staple of entertainment and documentation. While they have largely gone out of style, they still evoke nostalgic memories for many who remember them. Before the ease of recording with smartphones and digital cameras, games were videotaped on VHS tapes. These recordings were later played back on large televisions so football teams could review their plays, learn from their performance, and improve for future games.

Patrons can view these historic recordings in our reading room using a television equipped for VHS playback.

01/30/2026

In honor of our current Lap Desk exhibit, here are some fun facts that examine the practical uses, design features, and technological significance of lap desks in the 18th and 19th centuries.

01/16/2026

Lap Desk Collection Exhibit

This collection showcases lap desks from the 18th and 19th centuries, generously donated to the library by George Newton, a UL Lafayette alumnus.

Long before laptops and PDAs, our ancestors relied on portable writing boxes to craft their letters and keep important papers safe. These lap desks weren't just surfaces for writing; they also featured
compartments for pens, ink, sand or blotting paper, and space to store stationery and documents.

Made from durable hardwoods like mahogany and walnut, with brass corners and bands for added strength, these sturdy boxes could brave rough travel conditions. Over time, lap desks became more decorative, often intricately carved or inlaid with stunning materials such as ivory, mother-of-pearl, or silver, in gorgeous patterns. Many even hid “secret” drawers beneath the ink and pen sections for added charm. Later designs were smaller and lighter, making them easier to carry.

The Special Collections department has put together this wonderful exhibition, complete with descriptions of each piece. The lap desks will be on display through the end of July 2026, and we invite everyone to visit. It's free and open to all.

12/19/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from UL Special Collections.

We wish everyone a joyful and restful holiday break.

UL Special Collections will be closed December 20, 2025, through January 4, 2026, and will reopen on January 5, 2026.

This beautiful artwork was created by our talented student aides, Vivian and Avery, they did an outstanding job, and we’re so grateful for their creativity!

12/05/2025

Dupré Library is accepting scholarly research papers and projects for the 2026 Annual Caffery Competition.

The Jefferson Caffery Research Award, established in 1967 by Ambassador and Mrs. Jefferson Caffery, recognizes outstanding original student scholarly research using primary source materials held in the Special Collections areas of the library.

For requirements and submission information, view the Caffery Competition: Call for Student Research Projects Guide.

Deadline for submissions of projects: April 3, 2026

Winner will be announced: April 2026

If you have not entered yet, we highly recommend you do so, if interested, as it is a great opportunity for you to become acquainted with library resources and gives you the ability to enhance your research skills!

Remember: The use of AI systems and programs such as ChatGPT is strictly prohibited. Papers and projects found to have been created through AI systems and programs will be disqualified.

11/21/2025

Have any questions about Special Collections? We got answers!

Whether you’re a first-time researcher, a student working on a project, or a community member curious about our archives, our Special Collections FAQs are here to guide you!

11/07/2025

Visiting Special Collections?

Discover Louisiana History and Cajun Culture - and help to protect it!

Here's a Special Collections Check List!

To begin your research journey, just give us a call at (337) 482-6031 or fill out the “Make an Appointment” form on the Dupré Library website under Special Collections.

https://library.louisiana.edu/collections/special-collections/make-appointment

Address

400 E Saint Mary Boulevard
Lafayette, LA
70503

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 7pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 7pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 5pm
Thursday	7:30am - 5pm
Friday	7:30am - 12:30pm
Saturday	10am - 2pm

Telephone

(337) 482-6031

Website

http://library.louisiana.edu/node/753

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