Special Collections: Collection Highlights

UNT Special Collections preserves a wide range of rare and unique materials documenting the history and culture of North Texas and beyond. Listed below are a few highlights from the collections.

Book History and Fine Bindings

UNT Special Collections holds many rare artifacts, specimens, books, and manuscripts that enable students and faculty to trace the evolution of the book across human history.

Business and Industry

Business archives preserve history, memory, and evidence of how organizations and entrepreneurs develop, innovate, and influence society.

Criminal Justice, Investigations, and Conspiracies

Primary sources and published materials documenting crime, criminology, law enforcement, criminal investigations, and conspiracies.

Fashion and Costume

This collecting area includes materials pertaining to clothing, accessories, and traditional attire.

History of Science and Technology

Comprised of material from the 18th century to the present day, these collections preserve and tell the story of scientific and technological advances throughout time.

Journalism and News Media

This collection area includes the personal collections of journalists and photojournalists, as well as the archives of news media outlets and professional news associations.

Literary Archives

Literary archives preserve a record of the creative writing process and can include research and correspondence files, early drafts of written work, and even unpublished manuscripts.

NBC5/KXAS (WBAP) Television News Archive

UNT Special Collections holds the complete news archive of NBC 5/KXAS (formerly WBAP), the oldest television news station in Texas. Amon G. Carter, operator of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and NBC affiliated radio station WBAP, constructed the Fort Worth television station that would run WBAP-TV.

Performing Arts

This collection includes historical and contemporary documentation of music, dance, and theater including the archives of performers, costume and set designers, and performing arts organizations.

Photography and Visual Materials

The Photography and Visual Materials Collection documents the history of photography and other visual mediums through the works of both traditional and vernacular artists.

Rare and Distinctive Books

Special Collections hold over 40,000 rare and distinctive books. You may search the complete collection through the library catalog.

Social Change and Activism

The Social Change archives seek to document the experiences and accomplishments of people and organizations that have challenged the status quo for the betterment of humanity.

Sports, Games, and Leisure

This diverse collecting area features specimens of early card and board games, archival collections of athletes and coaches, and faculty papers related to sports and leisure.

Texana Collections

Using a broad definition of Texana – not just materials about Texas, but works by Texas writers, works printed/published in Texas, and the work of Texas artists and illustrators – UNT Libraries’ Special Collections houses unique items that showcase the diverse history, culture, and art of the Lone Star State.

The National Juneteenth Museum

UNT Special Collections has partnered with National Juneteenth Museum to preserve and provide access to museum collections. Collections temporarily housed at UNT are permanently owned by the museum.

University Archive

The University Archive collects, preserves, and makes available official and historical records of the University of North Texas.

Artists Books and Zines

An artists’ book is more than just a book. It is an artwork, or art object, that incorporates the form of concept of the book. A zine (short for magazine) is a handmade, self-published book that is created for the purpose of sharing knowledge, history, experiences, and art with others.