The University of California showcased on Apr. 21 a selection of rare and unique items from its special collections, inviting the public to explore these resources both in person and online.
The announcement emphasizes the accessibility of extraordinary historical and cultural artifacts housed within UC libraries, many of which are available for public viewing by appointment or through digital archives. These collections include objects ranging from medieval manuscripts to contemporary art and ephemera.
Among the featured treasures is the Danz Collection at UC San Francisco’s Kalmanovitz Library, which contains handblown glass eyeballs crafted in 1880s Germany as teaching tools for medical schools. The collection demonstrates a blend of scientific detail and artistic craftsmanship. Another highlight is Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, held at UC Irvine Special Collections & Archives with another copy at UC Berkeley. This volume preserved many of Shakespeare’s plays that might otherwise have been lost.
UC Riverside’s Eaton Collection features early “Black Panther” comic books that mark significant moments in pop culture history by introducing one of the first Black superheroes in mainstream American comics. At UC San Diego, the Koba-Russel Sketchbook documents Native American history through ledger drawings created by Kiowa artist Koba during his imprisonment at Fort Marion between 1875 and 1878.
Other notable holdings include costume designs by Dunya Ramicova at UC Merced; records from Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company documenting Black business history at UCLA; posters from Sacramento’s Royal Chicano Air Force collective at UC Santa Barbara; Dorothea Lange and Pirkle Jones’ photographs chronicling Berryessa Valley before it was submerged to create Lake Berryessa at UC Santa Cruz; Amy Tan’s literary archive at UC Berkeley; and Ellen Isham Schutt’s pomological watercolors depicting fruit varieties commissioned for agricultural research now housed at UC Davis.
The University encourages those interested to schedule visits or browse millions of digitized objects online, providing opportunities for students, researchers, and members of the public to engage directly with primary sources reflecting diverse histories.
