The Rare and Unique Books Collections contain over 8,000 volumes on various subjects such as Mesoamerica, theatre, children's literature, chess, art, and typography.
Arthur M. Applebaum Collection of Theater Plays
Arthur M. Applebaum, entertainment and corporate attorney, made five contributions of theater-related books to the University, many of which were added to the regular circulating collection. The Arthur M. Applebaum Theatre Arts Collection consists of approximately 150 linear feet of published plays.
California Arts Commission Collection of Orchestral Scores and Parts
The California Arts Commission Collection, consisting of 170 orchestral scores and parts (30 linear feet), was donated to Cal State LA by the California State Library in 1979. The collection includes works by a number of composers: Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Borodin, Brahms, Debussy, Dvorák, Elgar, Franck, Haydn, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Musorgsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Rinskii-Korsakov, Rossini, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and Weber. Each work includes a conductor's score and a complete set of orchestral parts.
Comic Book Collection
Perceived to be a staple of literary entertainment, comic books introduced readers to superheroes and fictional stories. One of the most iconic characters to emerge from the comic book era was Tarzan, “King of the Apes.” The story of a man who grew up to be the lord of the jungle, Tarzan swung through vines, battled fearsome creatures, and defeated powerful villains. Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in the early 20th century, Tarzan captivated readers and became a comic book icon enjoying popularity for many decades. The rights were picked up and published by many companies over the years including DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and Dell. The bulk of this collection features 1970s DC Tarzan comics, but also includes other comic books from 1961-1996 such as an issue of Batman, Mammy Yokum, Dennis the Menace, and Hurray for Andy Capp!
Collection Call Number: MS 1977.001
View Collection Guide
John K. Pollard Collection of Children's Books
The Pollard Collection of Children's Books, donated in 1967 by biochemist John K. Pollard, is comprised of works by American and English authors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable authors include Horatio Alger, Victor Appleton, William Baker, Gerald Breckenridge, Thorton Burgess, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Allen Chapman, Elmer Dawson, Fremont Deering, J. W. Duffield, Leo Edwards, Edward Ellis, Percy Fitzhugh, Howard Garis, Lillian Garis, Zane Grey, H. Irving Hancock, William Heyliger, Laura Lee Hope, Howard Payson and Harold Sherman. All are first or limited editions. The collection totals approximately 2,650 titles, or 91 linear feet.
Mesoamerica and Colonial Mexico Rare Book Collection
The Mesoamerica and Colonial Mexico Rare Book Collection is comprised of three collections: Ruwet, Glass, and Nicholson. The three collections account for about 7,000 books and documents including the papers and research works of three donors. The collection is divided into three large groups: The Mesoamerican, the Colonial, and the independent periods that form the sequence of the history of Mexico from the 16th to the 20th century. The collection includes facsimile editions of Pre-Columbian Codices, such as the Borgia, Nuttall, Fejervary-Mayer, Vaticanus A and B, Selden, Borbonicus, Boturini, Mendoza, De la Cruz-Badiano, and Florentine Codex. Some editions are accompanied by analysis and annotations by 19th and 20th-century scholars such as Alfredo Chavero, Francisco del Paso Y Troncoso, Eduard Seler, and Jose Fernando Ramirez, among others. The donation of the collection was led and fostered by Dr. Manuel Augilar-Moreno, Cal State LA Professor in the College of Arts and Letters.
Munitz Chess Collection
The Munitz Chess Collection, donated to Cal State LA by Dr. Barry Munitz in 2006, is comprised of over 400 volumes of rare chess books and serials.
Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA Exhibition Catalog Collection
An exhibition catalog is a work published to document a presentation of artwork and includes a list of works shown. It may also contain illustrations, introductory essays, analyses of works of art, biographical information on the artists, etc.
Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA was a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles. Led by the Getty, Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA was a collaborative effort with arts institutions from across Southern California.
View the Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA Exhibition Catalog Collection
Perry R. Long Collection of Books on Printing and Graphic Design
Perry Robert Long was a printer with a distinguished national reputation. In 1959, the University Library at Cal State LA was selected by a committee to receive Mr. Long's collection of books on printing and graphic design consisting of approximately 3,000 titles, or 360 linear feet, of rare and beautiful books of, and about, fine printing. It is one of the largest collections of typographica on the West Coast. It includes works on the art and science of typography, paper making and color printing, graphic design, book binding, printer's manuals, and histories, as well as ephemera, keepsakes, announcements, broadsides, and other examples of fine printing.
The collection also includes a rare Washington handpress. It was manufactured in the United States between 1821 and 1910, by Paul Shniedewend. It was presented to the University in memory of Gordon J. Holmquist in 1966.
Thesis and Dissertation
The Cal State LA thesis collection includes masters theses written by Cal State LA graduate students as part of their degree requirements. As records of original research, the collection is actively read and referred to by Cal State LA students, outside researchers and alumni. All theses (print and digital) are discoverable through the library catalog, One Search
Note Print thesis and Dissertations from 1954 –2011 are housed in the Special Collections and Archives unit of the University Library, located in the Library South/Palmer Wing, Room 2079. It is a non-circulating collection and can be accessed through walk-in or a scheduled appointment. You can request an appointment using the Appointment Application
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Digital Thesis and Dissertations (2012-Present)
The library provides access to Masters theses published after Winter 2012 in full text electronic format. All electronic copies can be accessed by author, title or keyword search via One Search.