Through our digital collections, Vassar College Libraries aim to provide access to high-quality digital content generated by the Libraries for research and study, as open as possible; support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the College; preserve at-risk or fragile physical collections through digitization, or at-risk born-digital collections through reformatting; expose hidden, less-used physical collections through access to digital surrogates; and foster experimental, cutting-edge, and innovative projects through technology. Learn More
Head and shoulders oval, framed picture of Matthew Vassar as an elderly man wearing glasses, black tie, white shirt, and dark suit.
Head and shoulders picture of Matthew Vassar as an elderly man wearing glasses, black tie, white shirt, and dark suit with black collar.
Half-length picture of Matthew Vassar as an elderly man wearing glasses, black tie, white shirt, and dark suit with black collar.
Half-length picture of Matthew Vassar as an elderly man wearing glasses, black tie, white shirt and dark suit with black collar.
Head and shoulders picture of Matthew Vassar as an elderly man wearing glasses, dark tie, white shirt and dark suit.
Head and shoulders picture of Matthew Vassar as an elderly man wearing glasses, dark tie, white shirt and dark suit.
Full-length picture of Matthew Vassar in silhouette. The original silhouette was cut by Auguste Edouart at Saratoga during the Summer, 1843.
Head and shoulders silhouette of Matthew Vassar.
Head and shoulders, oval silhouette of Matthew Vassar in decorated mat and square frame.
Half-length picture of Matthew Vassar as a mature man wearing a black tie, white shirt and black suit. He is seated at a desk, holding a quill pen in his right hand and eyeglasses in his left hand. His right arm is resting on a desk.
Half-length picture of Matthew Vassar as a mature man wearing a black tie, white shirt and black suit. He is seated at a desk, holding a quill pen in his right hand and eyeglasses in his left hand. His right arm is resting on a desk.
White house, fence and trees.
Room with table, chairs, fireplace, door, hanging light fixture and kitchenware.
Minnesota writer and librarian Maureen Millea Smith, talks about her book of short stories, The Enigma of Iris Murphy (Livingson, 2016). "Astonishing and original, these stories draw us into the singular world of Omaha public defender Iris Murphy and the interconnected relationships she shares with
Here you will find digitized archival collections, oral histories, and more. We are continually expanding the collections and improving access. You may find additional digital resources that reside outside the digital library here, and a selection of Online Exhibitions here.
Collections Overview
The Archives & Special Collections Library is part of the Vassar College Libraries system. It holds the rare book, manuscript, and archival collections of the college. It collects, preserves, and makes available rare and unique collections, and also engages in teaching and outreach activities. This collection of finding aids describe items in both the Virginia B. Smith Memorial Manuscript Collection and the College Archives.
The Vassar College herbarium holds over 8,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, and algae. Holdings are primarily from northeastern North America, and include collections made by several notable 19th century botanists. To learn more about this project visit the website here.
Vassar College's institutional repository reflects the research and scholarly output of the Vassar College community. It provides access to senior theses, peer reviewed open access articles, and projects from a wide range of disciplines.