Digital Collections provide a foundation for research, education, and humanities programming through
their documentation of significant aspects of the American story.
The images in these collections can be downloaded for private use without cost or
permission. Use of any images for publication--articles, exhibitions, etc.--requires
notification and permission. To request permission or for higher resolution images,
please contact Special Collections at specialcollections@wcu.edu.
Browse Hunter Library's Digital Collections
Browse Hunter Library's Digital Humanities projects
The regional collections housed in Hunter Library’s Special Collections focus on manuscripts
documenting southern Appalachian life and natural history, with particular attention
to western North Carolina. The manuscripts include letters, diaries, business and
financial records, legal documents, literary productions, maps, news clippings, and
photographs. Specific collections may represent the activities or history of an individual,
a family, a business, or organization.
Areas of collecting interest include:
- material documenting the cultural and natural history of western North Carolina and
southern Appalachia;
- material documenting the history of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians;
- literary works and papers of authors residing in, or native to, or writing about western
North Carolina;
- materials concerning the history of Western Carolina University (previously known
as Cullowhee High School, Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School, Cullowhee State
Normal School, Western Carolina Teachers College, and Western Carolina College). Materials
include university publications and photographs; and
- material concerning the behavior of spiders.
Search the Library's Manuscript Collections
This collection contains books that would be difficult to replace if damaged or lost
and includes materials pertaining to regional history and culture, Appalachian wilderness,
and the behavior of spiders. Special Collections books do not circulate but may be
used in the Special Collections reading room.
