About
Our Mission and History
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Today's Hours:
10am - 4:30pm | Library Hours
Phone:
Email:
Location:
Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
3420 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206
| Directions
Reading Room
Access Kislak Center Collections On-Site and Remotely
Notable Collections
Search by Subject, Period, Language, and More
Research
Fellowships and Support for Researchers, Students, and Faculty
Access and Visitors
How to Find Us
Classes in the Kislak Center
Teaching and Resources for Instructors
News
James G. Spady: A Pan-Africanist Renaissance Man
Read about the path-breaking work of James G. Spady in the Unique at Penn post by Zhangyang Xie.
Read more about James G. Spady Papers and how to access them here.
Cultures of the Book
An English class taught by Whitney Trettien allows students to explore a range of texts at the Penn Libraries to learn the history of how humans have recorded and shared knowledge.
A Love Story in the Walter J. Lear Papers
Unique at Penn post by Kelin Baldridge Smallwood remembers the joy of Walter Lear's relationship with his boyfriend Werner in the 1960s.
Walter Lear (1923-2010) was an American physician, public health official, and activist for healthcare reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and numerous other causes.
The Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies
Bringing manuscript culture, modern technology and people together.
Staff
List
Sean Quimby
Associate University Librarian & Director of the Jay I. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts | Director of the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies smquimby@upenn.edu
Sam Sfirri
Born-Digital Archivist ssfirri@upenn.edu
Lauren Smith
Rare Materials Library Assistant lrile@pobox.upenn.edu
Lynne Farrington
Director of Programs/Senior Curator, Special Collections lynne@pobox.upenn.edu
Aylin Malcolm
Graduate Assistant SIMS Journal malcolma@sas.upenn.edu
Dot Porter
Curator of Digital Research Services dorp@upenn.edu
Amey Hutchins
Manuscripts Cataloging Librarian ameyh@upenn.eduLocation and Accessibility
Accessibility
The accessible entrance of Van pelt-Dietrich Library Center opens into the Goldstein Undergraduate Study Center. This entrance is on the ground floor of the building facing Blanche P. Levy Park and College Hall. A wheelchair accessible doorbell is located on the railing leading toward the door.
