Michael and Margaret B. Harrison Western Research Center Collection
Collection Overview
Collected over a period of more than eighty years, the Michael and Margaret B. Harrison Western Research Center consists of more than 21,000 volumes relating to the history of the Trans-Mississippi West, including rare and fine press books, serials, pamphlets, maps, and other printed items. Subject strengths include Native Americans, cowboys and cattlemen, western military history, Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, western art, transportation, trails, and national parks. The collection also contains western art including paintings, etchings, and lithographs; Native American baskets and pottery; bronze sculptures; and memorabilia.
The collection was donated to the Regents of the University of California for the University Library at the University of California, Davis by Michael and Margaret B. Harrison and is administered by the library’s Archives and Special Collections department.
How to Access the Collection
The Harrison Western Research Center is administered by the UC Davis Library’s Archives and Special Collections department. It is a non-circulating collection under Archives and Special Collections Reading Room rules that are designed to protect the rare and unique materials.
Preserving the Legacy
The Harrison Estate generously provided for the acquisition of new materials for the collection. It does not provide, however, for the curatorial costs to incorporate the collection into its new home or for the mounting of exhibits, development of educational materials or its continued maintenance. These costs are considerable, and are essential to the library’s ability to ensure the full use of the collection. The University Library, therefore, has established a fund for these purposes.
Donations to The Michael and Margaret B. Harrison Legacy Fund will ensure that the collection is always used to its fullest capacity. We invite you to complete the form below for the Harrison Legacy Fund. We value your partnership in this endeavor.
For questions about the Harrison Legacy Fund contact:
