Due to a renovation project, the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections will be closed December 15, 2025-January 19, 2026, and January 29-30, 2026. During this time, staff will have limited access to the building and the collections and may not be able to respond to questions within our usual time rame. Thank you for your patience.
RMC is open to all researchers for reading room appointments scheduled online. Our exhibition gallery is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Please contact us with research and instructional support questions. We invite you to explore our digital collections and online exhibitions as well.
Welcome
The Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections is Cornell’s principal repository of rare books, manuscripts and archival materials in history, literature, music, the arts, science, natural history, and technology.
Our collections include more than 500,000 printed volumes, more than 80 million manuscripts, and another million photographs, paintings, prints, and other visual media. We offer research and instruction services to support courses and scholarship, and host exhibitions that feature our collections. To learn more, see About Us.
We welcome researchers and visitors from around the globe. Please see Information for Visitors to plan your visit.
Featured Collections:
Current & Featured Exhibitions
Available to view in the Hirshland Exhibition Gallery.
Available online.
Available online.
You may also view over 60 other online exhibitions.