Peek in the Stacks

“Lend me your ears” writes William Shakespeare (1564-1616) in his play Julius Caesar. This is just one of many catchy phrases penned by the great writer and playwright. Scholars believe Shakespeare moved to London and began working in the theatre by the latter part of the 1580s, and William Shakespeare’s name began to appear in the record as a playwright by the early 1590s. Special Collections & Archives holds hundreds of titles written by and related to Shakespeare.

The Southern California Black Lives Matter Protests of 2020 Collection consists of newly processed digital photographs documenting the protests and other gatherings related to the Black Lives Matter movement.

What is the link between a pickled human heart, the rise of the middle class, and the oldest musical instrument? The answer lies in Special Collections & Archives. Housed within the Vahdah Olcott-Bickford Collection is a transcription by Fransisco Tarrega of Chopin’s Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 for the guitar. This is a particularly unique item considering the history of the guitar. 

The Hassina and Deeptha Leelarathna Photographic Collection is an invaluable historical archive that offers a glimpse into the lives of two Sri Lankan immigrants who made significant contributions to the Sri Lankan community in the United States.