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Blanchard, Richard. Rare Book Collection

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Collection Information

History of this Collection

This collection is the general Archives and Special Collections Rare Book Collection, named for University Librarian, J. Richard Blanchard (1912-1996). The collection was brought together shortly after the establishment of the Department of Special Collections in 1966. It began with the Isaac Foot and C.K. Ogden libraries. Resulting from these collections the early strength of the Blanchard Rare Book Collection was in religion, English history, and literature. There was an early effort to bolster the collection in the area of history of agriculture and the natural sciences. Subject areas of strength that emerged early include viticulture & enology and agricultural technology.

The history of California and the American West were also important from the beginning with an emphasis on the Central Valley and its surrounding regions.

Overview/Highlights of Collection

History of Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering, Literature, History of Science (especially Biological Sciences), Food Sciences and Culinary Arts, California and the American West, Religion (esp. 16th-18th centuries).

Collection Strengths

  • History of African American Civil Rights Movement.
  • African Americans in the history and culture of California.

Related Collections

Michael and Margaret B. Harrison Western Research Center Collection

Collections About the Department

How to Access Materials

To request an item,​ look for the “Request from Special Collections” link located in the “Get It” section of the item record in UC Library Search. This will initiate a request form for that item within the Aeon request system.

Step-by-Step Instructions