The History of Science Collection of rare books includes the library's oldest materials, limited
and special editions, books published in unusual formats, and any other materials judged to be
either rare enough or of such significance that they warrant inclusion in the rare book collection.
This is a growing collection, supplemented by an ongoing acquisitions program.
Books in the collection are limited to the subject coverage of the rest of library, meaning all
books within the pure and applied sciences with the exception of medicine, and they range in
date from Gutenberg's time in the fifteenth century to modern books of the twentieth century.
Rich historical collections have been acquired, notably, with the purchase of the Library of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1947, and the transfer of the Engineering
Societies Library in 1995. Archival and manuscript materials are not collected.
Strong collections of secondary materials, including recent monographs and serials on various
aspects of the history of science and technology, are an important part of the library's main
collections that support research in its rare book collection.
The library usually mounts two major exhibits of rare books each year in its Exhibit Hall, highlighting a strength or special aspect of the History of Science Collection. Brochures and catalogs accompany most exhibits, some examples of which include the following: