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.

RESEARCH GUIDES

Archival Collections at the Clark Library

English and American Literature at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

Gender Studies at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library

LGBTQ+ Studies at the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library