Welcome
Research the stories of Asheville, Western North Carolina, and UNC Asheville.
Special Collections was founded in 1977 as the Southern Highlands Research Center with the mission of collecting resources that document the diverse culture and history of Asheville and Western North Carolina. That mission continues today through manuscripts, books, oral histories, photographs, maps, and other primary source materials.
University Archives preserves records, photographs, and publications documenting the history of the University of North Carolina Asheville. Our archivists also assist the university community with records retention questions under the UNC System’s Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.
We welcome students, faculty, staff, community members, and researchers to use Special Collections and University Archives. We are located on the third floor of D. H. Ramsey Library and are available by appointment. We also support instruction, reference services, and internship opportunities that strengthen undergraduate learning and individual research.
For research assistance, email speccoll@unca.edu.
Explore Our Collections
Highlights & Guides
We are pleased to announce the donation of the Bill and Alice Hart Collection, a comprehensive collection documenting Western North Carolina history and culture.
Learn more on the UNC Asheville News site and in the Appalachian Curator.
Need help citing primary sources? See our guide to citing special collections materials in Chicago/Turabian style.
For news and updates, visit our blog, UNC Asheville Archives, or follow us on Facebook.
University History
Explore the history of UNC Asheville.
Browse photographs, publications, and archival records documenting Asheville-Biltmore College and the growth of UNC Asheville.
Start with the University Timeline, 1927–2017 and discover related materials in our archival collections.
