The Clark Library’s central collection comprises books and manuscripts produced in England and France between 1650 and 1830. Particularly strong in John Dryden, Restoration drama, and early modern poetry, the collection contains many of the rarest printed books produced in the early modern period, including nearly a thousand titles surviving in unique copies. While focused primarily on literature and history, this collection also has strong holdings in philosophy, music, history of science, theology, and popular entertainments. The Library also holds collections on reading and material culture of the long 18th century, such as books annotated by previous owners and personal library catalogs, as well as manuscript and ephemera that preserve evidence of daily work and leisure activities.

SEARCHING THE CATALOG

To find printed books, broadsides, maps, periodicals, bound manuscripts, and other discrete items from this period, consult UC Library Search. To limit by date, click on “Advanced Search,” in the top, right-hand corner. Once you have search results, you can limit to the Clark Library by selecting it from the “UCLA Locations” facet on the left-hand side.

ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS

For detailed inventories of archival collections, please consult our LibGuide to archives at the Clark, or the Clark Library’s page on the Online Archive of California (OAC).

DIGITAL RESOURCES

Early Modern English Manuscripts – English bound manuscripts dating 1650-1800 from the Clark Library

Early Modern Annotated Books – Annotated printed books dating 1472-1818 from the Clark Library

Mexican Manuscripts from UCLA’s Clark Library – 18th century manuscripts from colonial Mexico

See our Collection Development Policy for more information!