L. Tom Perry Special Collections, rare book and manuscript collection at the Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
L. Tom Perry Special Collections is a research library at Brigham Young University housing approximately 280,000 printed items and 8,000 manuscript collections containing diaries, journals, and university records. The facility also holds around 500,000 photographs and focuses on Mormon history, Western Americana, literature, and printing arts.
The collection was relocated to a new location in 1999 within the Harold B. Lee Library after previously being housed on the fourth floor. Named after Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, it has since grown into a major research resource for Mormon and Western American history.
The collection documents Mormon community history and Western American life through original sources such as diaries, letters, and photographs. Visitors can discover how people lived in past generations by exploring these materials firsthand.
Visitors should submit requests at least 30 days in advance, especially for large requests involving rare materials. Staff can assist online through email or chat, allowing questions to be answered without visiting in person.
The collection features specialized sections for film and music archives, Victorian-era photographs, and printing history materials. These diverse holdings make it a resource that extends beyond traditional books and tells history through multiple media formats.
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