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The Special Collections of the UAB Libraries consists of rare and unique collections of material from 14th century manuscript texts to 21st century photographs and medical apparatus.

Special Collections is comprised of several distinct entities: the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library, the UAB Archives, and the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences. Also included in Special Collections is a rare book collection of published works in the humanities and social sciences. The entities of Special Collections also contribute extensively to the digital efforts of the UAB Libraries by supplying resource content for the UAB Digital Collections.

Learn more about the entities in Special Collections:

Reynolds-Finley Historical Library

Reynolds-Finley Historical Library

The Reynolds-Finley Historical Library is a history of medicine and science collection with rare books and manuscript texts dating from the 14th through the early 20th centuries.

UAB Archives

UAB Archives

UAB Archives is the official archival repository for the university and it documents all areas of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and houses manuscript collections in the health sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities.

Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences

Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences

The Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences is a collection of artifacts, equipment, and apparatus documenting the history of medicine in all the health science professional fields.

Sterne Rare Book Collection

Sterne Rare Book Collection

The Sterne Rare Book Collection is a specialized collection of published material from the 18th through the 20th centuries in the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

UAB Digital Collections

UAB Digital Collections

UAB Digital Collections is a collection of digital resource content for UAB Libraries.

Item Donations

The different entities of Special Collections collect and preserve the material that best fits the mission and collection policy of each discrete entity. Staff are available to speak about the donation of material.

Generally, the Reynolds-Finley Historical Library accepts published primary resource material in the health science fields prior to the mid-20th century. The Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences accepts equipment, instruments, and objects that represent the history and development of the health sciences. The UAB Archives accepts collections of archival material (documents, photographs, scrapbooks, etc.) that relate to the university or to the health sciences; it also accepts archival collections being preserved by the university. Rare books or specialized titles in the non-health science fields would be considered for the rare book collection at Sterne Library.

Historical Lecture Series

The objective of the Reynolds-Finley Historical Lecture Series is to review, assess, and discuss various historical aspects of the health care sciences. The series runs from Fall to Spring. The Annual Reynolds-Finley Lecture is the foremost presentation in this series that brings speakers of prominence to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. View the Lecture Series page for additional information about this series.

Fellowship and Membership

The following are ways that you can become more involved or provide support for Special Collections:

Mervyn H. Sterne Library

917 13th St S
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-6364

Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences

1700 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL

(205) 975-4821

Reynolds-Finley Historical Library

1700 University Blvd - 3rd Floor
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-4475

Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences

1700 University Blvd - 3rd Floor
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-4475

Lister Hill Library at University Hospital

615 18th Street S - P235 West Pavilion
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-2275

801 Building

801 5th Ave South
Room 1111
Birmingham, AL

(205) 934-5432

J. Ellis Sparks Medical Library

301 Governors Drive SE - 3rd Floor
Huntsville, AL 35801

(256) 551-4405

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