LSU Libraries Special Collections

10/09/2026

Expect the unexpected...

Did you know that Hill's holdings include a doll collection? While the materials we collect are typically paper-based, we have received some more peculiar donations in the past. Enter the Edith Dabney Doll Collection, donated to us in the 1960s by retired LSU professor of speech and costume design, Edith Dabney.

These porcelain dolls are clothed in elaborate costumes, many hailing from countries all over the world. While we appreciate the artistry behind the over eighty dolls in the collection, many of our current staff find the dolls to be a bit unsettling, their painted features and antique dress a perfect highlight for Haunted Hill.

You can view the collection in its entirety here on the Louisiana Digital Library: https://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/islandora/object/lsu-sc-p16313coll9:collection

So what do you think? Are Hill's resident dolls cute or creepy?

10/01/2026

It is finally October, our favorite time of the year. Not only is it American Archives month, it is also officially spooky season... This year, we're celebrating Haunted Hill, a frighteningly good line-up of all things creepy and crawly found here in our collections. Follow along for a month of tricks and treats, but only if you dare.

This raven illustration comes from our Rare Book collection: an edition of Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem featuring wood engravings and etchings by Alan James Robinson. This book can be requested for viewing in our Reading Room!

09/30/2026

09/25/2026

Calling all LSU students and their families!
Step inside Hill Memorial Library next Friday and find out what's so "special" about Special Collections. Join us for behind-the-scenes tours of our historic building and learn about Louisiana history from undergraduate researchers as part of this year’s LSU Discover summer projects. We hope to see you there!

09/23/2026

Our current exhibition, "Made in America: Selected Imprints from 1776-1826," showcases items from our Rare Book Collection, commemorating the 250th anniversary of our nation and emphasizing the profound impacts of the printed word on the lives of early Americans.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. It will run through the fall 2026 semester.

Come by Hill Memorial Library Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM, to see it for yourself!

Learn more here: https://lib.lsu.edu/260908/madeinamerica

09/23/2026

We love having the opportunity to collaborate with professors and students across campus!

📚💜 Another amazing day at Hill Memorial Library! 🐯LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences LSU Libraries Special Collections

Today we had the incredible opportunity to explore a remarkable range of medieval and early modern texts and manuscripts, including Spanish works connected to Alfonso X “el Sabio,” Arabic texts, Jewish Haggadah manuscripts, works by Seneca, and a colonial-era manuscript connected to Louisiana. 📜✨

Seeing these historic materials up close was an unforgettable experience. They offered a fascinating glimpse into the languages, cultures, religions, literature, and histories preserved through the centuries.

So grateful for this opportunity to learn, explore, and share the experience with such an amazing group! 💜📖


Medieval & Early Modern Studies/ Estudios Medievales y del Siglo de Oro

09/22/2026

Check out this special event benefiting the LSU Libraries T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History! Happening this week at the Champions Club at Alex Box Stadium on Thursday, September 24, from 4–7 pm!

There is a very special event this week at the Champions Club at Alex Box Stadium on Thursday, September 24, from 4–7 pm! Richard A. Lipsey will be signing copies of his memoir, and we are honored and grateful that proceeds from this book signing will benefit the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History’s mission to document and preserve stories of Louisiana’s history and culture.

“Looking Back: 85+ Years of Family, Business, LSU, Community, and the Lone Witness to JFK’s Autopsy,” by Richard A. Lipsey and Michael E. Long, offers a fascinating window into the life experiences of a Louisiana legend. We are grateful to Richard Lipsey and his family for supporting the Center and helping bring this important story to a wider audience.

09/09/2026

Happening tonight! Join us in the Hill Memorial Library lecture hall for a book talk from Dean Jonathan Earle about his new book.

09/08/2026

2/2 Our heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for Fall Into History on Sunday, September 6. It was an incredible day filled with joyous learning and community! An extra special thank you to our partnering museums, LSU Libraries Special Collections, Baton Rouge African American History Museum, West Baton Rouge Museum, and food trucks, Chicky Sandos, Texana Taceauxs, and Ice Diamonds & Treats, for helping bring Fall Into History to life!