The McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives is home to many of the Libraries' rarest materials, including manuscripts, archives, prints, artifacts, and all materials pertaining to Northwestern's history. The McCormick Library's holdings are non-circulating and are open to the public for research and reference.

The finding aids in this database describe archival and manuscript materials held by various Northwestern University libraries. Information regarding content, historical context, creation and arrangement of a collection can be found in these finding aids, though the depth of detail varies by individual collection.

Digital Collections contains thousands of items from Northwestern University Libraries. While only a fraction of materials from the Libraries' collections are represented, the site is representative of the distinction and diversity of collections from the Northwestern Government and Geographic Information collection, Herskovits Library of African Studies, Music Library, McCormick Library of Special Collections, Transportation Library, and University Archives.

Archive Finder is a current directory which describes over 220,000 collections of primary source material housed in thousands of repositories across the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

ArchiveGrid includes over 7 million records describing archival materials, bringing together information about historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and more. With over 1,400 U.S. archival institutions represented, ArchiveGrid helps researchers looking for primary source materials held in archives, libraries, museums and historical societies.

A helpful guide (PDF) with information about about local archives and special collections beyond Northwestern, how to access them, and what to consider before you visit.

The circulation desk in Main Library has a variety of AV and tech equipment available for check out, including cameras, tripods, and other equipment helpful for archival and field research.

Take control of your research photos with Tropy, a tool that shortens the path from finding archival sources to writing about them. Spend more time using your research photos, and less time hunting for them.