Shiffman Medical Library

Special Collections

Special Collections:

Arthur L. Johnson African-American History Collection

The Arthur L. Johnson collection of books, videos and non-print materials reflects the history of African Americans as it relates to the civil rights movement in the United States. The purpose of the collection is to serve the teaching and research needs of students and faculty, as well as the Detroit metropolitan community. The collection began in 1993 with a donation of several print and non-print materials from Arthur L. Johnson and the establishment of the Arthur L. Johnson Endowment. Items in this collection may be located in the Online Catalog.

Curriculum Guide Collection

The Curriculum Guide Collection contains paper copies of curriculum guides from school districts throughout the United States. It is located on the fourth floor of the Purdy Library. Items in this collection are cataloged using a unique Dewey based system and are browsable in the Online Catalog by call number. Nothing has been added to this collection since the late 1970s. The Purdy/Kresge Library currently receives curriculum guides on microfiche.

Elephant Research Foundation Library

The Elephant Research Foundation Library (ERFL) is a diverse collection of information and display resources about elephants and their relatives both past and present. Items have been cataloged using the Library of Congress classification system for all adult literature and the Dewey system for the juvenile literature that comprises this collection. All ERFL resources are accessible via the Online Catalog.

This is an active collection and one that continues to grow as both current and out-of-print resources are added to it. Please note that the Elephant Research Foundation Library is intended for building use only and patrons must apply for access at one of the service desks in the Science and Engineering Library. Requests for interlibrary loan will be honored whenever possible. See the Elephant Research Foundation Library Web site for additional information and an online bibliography.

Florence Nightingale Collection

The Purdy/Kresge Collection contains a collection of items owned by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. You can also read digital copies.

John Herman Trybom Memorial Collection

The Trybom Memorial Collection was named in honor of John Herman Trybom, a pioneer in Detroit vocational education and one of the founders of vocational education at Wayne University. The original collection was absorbed by Wayne State University Libraries in 1958 and in the 1960s the books were disbursed into the general collections. New materials in the field of vocational and applied education are still purchased through contributions from the John Herman Trybom Committee. Books in this collection are distinguished by a book plate.

Juvenile Collection

The Juvenile Collection is one of the largest collections of this kind in a university library. It contains over 60,000 items. The collection covers age groups from preschool to some lower level college. It includes all subject areas and has special subsections for fiction, biography, and picture easy books. This collection was started by the College of Education in the early 1940s as a resource for training teachers. It is currently located on the fourth floor of the Purdy Library.

Leonard Simons Collection of Rare Michigan History Texts

The Leonard Simons Collection of Rare Michigan History was donated by Leonard N. Simons. It consists primarily of materials on the history of the Northwest Territories, the State of Michigan, and the Detroit metropolitan area. New items are continuously added to this collection. The collection is located in Room 144 Purdy, the Leonard Simons Room. It does not circulate.

Louis Kasle Collection

Established in the mid-1950s, the Kasle Collection contains materials on comparative religion with a special emphasis on Judaica. Included in the Kasle Collection is the Waxer Collection.

This collection is integrated into the general library collection in the Purdy/Kresge Library. Recent additions to the collection are classified with Library of Congress call number. Older portions of the collection are classified under Dewey Decimal call numbers and many are in Storage. Of special note is the large concentration of materials in a special expansion of the Dewey 296 classification.

Items in the Kasle Collection may be located by searching the Online Catalog by Title for "kasle collection". No Catalog access by collection title is provided for materials in the Waxer Collection. Waxer catalog numbers are recorded in the "Notes" field of the accession holding statement.

Merril-Palmer Institute Collection

The Merrill-Palmer Institute Collection contains books and journals in the subject of childhood education, psychology and sociology. Many of its monographs are rare and some date back to the early 1900s. The collection was donated to Wayne State University by the Merrill-Palmer Institute. Items in the Merrill-Palmer Institute Collection may be located by searching the Online Catalog. Most monographs from the collection are circulating and stored in University Libraries’ Materials Storage under special accession numbers.

Mildred Jeffrey Collection of Peace and Conflict Resolution

Named for the labor-movement activist Mildred Jeffrey, this collection was donated to the WSU Libraries in 1990. Adult materials were interfiled throughout the regular collection, while children's books have been kept together on the fourth floor of the Purdy/Kresge Library. This collection focuses on the issues of international peace, conflict resolution, human rights, environmental studies, and social justice. The Jeffrey Collection is under continuing development and is currently being expanded to include non-print materials. Growth of this collection is supported by the proceeds of the Mildred Jeffrey Peace and Conflict Collection Fund. Materials in this collection may be searched in the Online Catalog.

Millicent A. Wills Collection of Urban Ethnic Materials

Begun in 1968 and dedicated in 1990 to former Detroit school teacher Millicent A. Wills, this collection consists of books that deal with urban life and ethnic diversity. Although this is a non-circulating collection, all books contained within it have been duplicated for the regular circulating juvenile books. The Wills Collection is located on the 4th floor of the Purdy Library near the juvenile collection.

Purdy/Kresge Microform Collection

The Microform Collection, which includes periodicals, newspapers, and other content in microcard, microfiche, and microfilm formats, is available on the 1st floor of Purdy and in the basement. Titles located in the closed area may be requested at the Reference desk. Subject and finding guides are available online and at the Reference Desk.

Ramsey Collection of Literature for Young People

Named for its originator, Eloise Ramsey, this is a closed collection of rare books and periodicals related to children's literature from the late 18th century to the present, and located in the Purdy/Kresge Library. The collection has been expanded over the years with award winning titles and otherwise outstanding works; whenever possible, recent acquisitions to the collection have been duplicated in the circulating juvenile collection. Books and materials in the collection are listed in the Online Catalog, but are not available for check out and MUST be used in the Purdy reference area.

To request an item, use the "Request Closed Item" link found on the right-hand side of the catalog record displayed for the material (or access the request form directly). Fill in all requested information, including Call Number as it appears in the catalog record, and check the box marked "Ramsey Collection" before submitting. Ramsey collection requests can take up to 24 hours to fulfill, and are delivered to the Purdy/Kresge Reference Desk when ready. Questions about the Ramsey Collection can be directed to Suzan Alteri, Librarian (313-577-6446).

Textbook Collection

The Textbook Collection contains items that cover all subjects. Special attention has been given to subjects taught in the Detroit Public School System. This collection is located on the fourth floor of the Purdy Library. First copies of all textbooks are non-circulating. If there are additional copies, they are usually circulating. Current materials in this collection are classified under Library of Congress call numbers and have the call number prefix "TEXT"; older items are classified under Dewey Decimal call numbers and have the call number prefix "T". Items in this collection may be located in the Online Catalog under their individual titles.

The William Alfred Boyce Storytelling Collection

The William Alfred Boyce Storytelling Collection was donated by Mrs. Iana Boyce upon the death of her husband Dr. William Boyce, a professor at Wayne State University as well as a professional storyteller (a.k.a. The Story Peddler). Boyce taught courses in Oral Interpretation of Literature, Voice and Diction, Reader's Theatre, and Storytelling - an integral part of Children's Literature. The books in this collection represent some of the best works in the world of storytelling, a tradition as old as mankind. Storytelling is not only an art, but it reveals what is most important in our lives. Read these stories aloud, share them with those around you, or study the history of storytelling through this wonderful collection located on the fourth floor of Purdy Library. Materials in this collection do not circulate.

Shiffman Medical Library
Wayne State University
Mazurek Medical Education Commons
320 E. Canfield St.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 577-1094