Frequently-Asked
Questions
About
the Collections
Q.
What is Specialized Libraries & Archival Collections?
A. Specialized Libraries & Archival Collections consists of the Boeckmann
Center of Iberian & Latin American Studies, the East Asian Library, University
Archives, and Special Collections.
Q.
What is the oldest object in Specialized Libraries & Archival
Collections?
A. The oldes object is a fossilized mastodon bones from the La Brea Tar Pits
(at least 10,000 years old).
Q. What is the
earliest bound manuscript book?
A. The earliest bound manuscript is a Breviarum from 1306 is the
earliest bound manuscript book.
Q. What is our
oldest printed book?
A. The oldest printed book at USC is a chapter from a Northern Song edition
of Shi Ji ("Records of the Historian). The Northern Song dynasty
lasted from 960-1126 A.D., and this book likely dates from the latter part
of this period, the late 11th or very early 12th century.
Q. What is the
oldest newspaper in the collection?
A. The Columbian centinel of Boston Massachusetts. USC has the November 5,
1808 issue.
Q. What is our
earliest printed book in America?
A. The earliest book printed in the future United States is The Treatise
on Religious Affections, by Jonathan Edwards and published in New York
by the American Tract Society in 1746. The earliest book printed in the Americas
outside the United States is Relación del espantable terremoto by
Juan Rodriguez and published in Mexico by J. Cromberger in 1541.
Q. What is our
smallest book?
A. From the Spanish Pueblo to 1924, published in Los Angeles by C.S.
Black in 1924. This book measures 16 millimeters (or about 3/4 of an inch)
in height.
Q. What is the
largest and most expensive printed set?
A. Birds of America, John James Audubon's Double Elephant Folio. The
set consists of 435 plates which were issued separately, and weighs
sixty pounds. A copy of this set was sold in New York in 2000 for $8,800,000.
Q.
Are there other languages besides English, German and Latin among
Rare Books & Manuscripts
at USC?
Q. In addition to English German and Latin, many more languages are represented
in Specialized Libraries & Archival Collections including: Arabic, Armenian,
Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French,
Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian,
Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish,
and Ukrainian.
Q. What is the
Feuchtwanger Memorial Library?
A. The Feuchtwanger Memorial Library consists of the 32,000 volume personal
library and extensive archives of the German-Jewish novelist exile, Lion Feuchtwanger,
and his wife, Marta; also included are manuscript collections for fellow exiles
Hanns Eisler, Heinrich Mann and Ludwig Marcuse. It currently serves as the
entrance into Specialized Libraries & Archival Collections, and is the
place to go in the Doheny Memorial Library to use rare books and archival materials.
Q. Who is Lion
Feuchtwanger?
A. Lion Feuchtwanger (1884-1958) fled Europe during World War II and lived
in Los Angeles from 1941 until his death in 1958. He began his literary career
as a theater critic and turned his talent to writing plays in the 1910s and
1920s. He first became internationally known, however, for his historical novel
Jud Süss published in 1925.
Q.
Did Lion Feuchtwanger donate all of the materials in Rare Books & Archives?
A. Though Lion Feuchtwanger's gift to USC is prominently displayed in Rare
Books & Archives, there are many more collections represented in its 130,000
volumes of rare and valuable books and serials, and over 300 archives. Among
them are the American Literature collection, Hancock
Natural History Collection, Regional History
Collection, and Hoose philosophy collection.
Q.
I've seen some books in Rare Books & Archives that were just published this
year. They're brand new. Why are they in Rare Books & Archives?
A. Rare Books & Archives means much more than just “antique materials.” Yes,
we do have many old and rare materials, some dating from as early as 1306.
In order to improve the content and purpose of specific collections, we continue
to purchase newly published books. These additions give you, the researcher,
the broadest overview possible.
Q.
Why are things that are neither rare nor old housed in Rare Books & Archives
where they cannot circulate?
A. In addition to housing a high proportion of rare and unique materials, Rare
Books & Archives also contains many thematic special collections whose
individual parts may not be 'valuable' or 'rare', but, as an aggregate, constitute
a historically significant body of material. Keeping these materials together
as a special collection enhances their research value.
For example, since
many of the contemporary texts acquired for the American Literature
collection are readily available in the marketplace it may seem puzzling
that their circulation should be restricted. The collecting policy
of the American Literature collection, since 1940, has been to acquire
significant materials in lyric, narrative, and dramatic form produced
by American authors from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century
and beyond. This mission (and the endowed funds and gifts that support
it) has produced a comprehensive and valuable collection in this
subject area, embracing scarce first editions, wherever possible
in their informative and fragile dust jackets. Many retrospective
titles in the American Literature collection are duplicated within
the circulating collections, but if you feel that the Library should
own a circulating copy of a particular title, you are encouraged
to request it via Recommend-a-Book.
About
Services & Access
Q.
Who can use Rare Books & Archives?
A. All USC students, staff and faculty; students and faculty from other colleges
and universities; and adult members of the surrounding communities.
Q.
When is Rare Books & Archives open?
A. During Fall and Winter semesters, Rare Books & Archives is open Monday
thru Friday, 9 am to 4:45 pm, and Saturday, 1 pm to 4:45 pm. Rare Books & Archives
is closed for the traditional national- and state-observed holidays. For specific
schedule information click
here or call (213) 740-4035 to ask specific questions about schedules.
Q.
Is Rare Books & Archives
closed during the lunch hour?
A. No, Rare Books & Archives remains open from 9 am to 4:45 pm.
Q.
Can I check out books and other items from Rare Books & Archives?
A. Materials in Rare Books & Archives are not able to be “checked
out” in the traditional library sense, i.e., materials cannot be removed
from the area and taken home. Research materials you request may only be used
in a secured reading room, under the supervision of Rare Books & Archives
staff. All materials are returned when you are finished, or at the end of the
day.
Q.
Is there an easy way to find out what is in Rare Books & Archives?
A. The Homer catalog contains records for all Rare Books & Archives materials
available for your use. Using the SEARCH function of the catalog will be the
easiest, fastest and most accurate way to find out what is in Rare Books & Archives. Click
here to begin your search of the Library catalog.
Q.
What kind of identification do I need to use Rare Books & Archives
materials?
A. Rare Books & Archives is part of the USC environment and so caters to
USC students and faculty. Students and faculty from other universities are
welcome to use Rare Books & Archives, as are members of the surrounding
communities. USC Identity Cards, other school identity cards, current driver’s
licenses, and passports are valid identification documents. In
order to access some collections, a Curator will conduct a personal interview
and ask for your signature of responsibility.
Q.
Can USC undergraduates use Rare Books & Archives?
A. Undergraduates are not only welcome to use Rare Books & Archives but
are encouraged to do so. Those who are new to research procedures may first
find it valuable to use Rare Books & Archives as a part of a specific class
assignment, under the direction of an instructor or professor.
Q.
Do I need to make an appointment to use Rare Books & Archives?
A. No. However, if you are doing extensive research and/or traveling some distance
to the university, an advance call (213-740-4035) or email (slac@usc.edu) would
be helpful to you. The staff can prepare materials in advance, and some materials
may
need
to
be retrieved
from remote storage centers.
Q.
Are there public phones available to me in Rare Books & Archives?
A. There are no public telephones in Rare Books & Archives. There are several
public telephones outside near the fountain by the Allan Hancock Foundation
Building.
Q.
Why is Rare Books & Archives closed evenings and weekends?
A. Staffing levels and security considerations are the main factors in limiting
our hours. We do revisit this issue periodically. If you would like to voice
an opinion or make a suggestion on this issue, please email slac@usc.edu.
Q.
My parents are coming to visit. Can I arrange for them to see some
of the treasures
in Rare Books & Archives?
A. By all means! Tours of the Library may be arranged by calling 213-740-4035
or e-mailing slac@usc.edu. With a little advance notice, we are happy to call
up
materials that might interest visitors.
Q.
Is there a classroom available in Rare Books & Archives?
A. We have a seminar room which may be used for small classes in which the
instructor wishes to use departmental collections. For availability and policies,
please call 213-740-4035.
Q. How can I find
information about my old books?
A. One of the best sources of information for basic questions about rare books
and book values is the brochure, Your
Old Books, by the late Peter Van Wingen.
Guides to book
values available in the library are:
- Ahearn, Allen
and Ahearn, Patricia. Book Collecting: a comprehensive guide. New
York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1995 (AmLit Z987.5.U6A35 1995)
- American
Book Prices Current.[New York] Bancroft-Parkman, 1894-95-
- lists actual prices realized (Doheny Journal Stacks Z1000.A51)
- Bookman's
Price Index. Detroit: Gale, 1964-
- lists catalog asking prices (Doheny Book Stacks Z1000.B74)
Last
updated:
April 23, 2005
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