Instruction

Teach with Special Collections

Have you ever held a 300-year-old book? Deciphered old handwriting? Seen a Golden Age comic book? All of that, and more, is possible in the Special Collections Research Center!

Special Collections Research Center’s librarians and archivists work closely with Appalachian State teaching faculty and instructors to develop class visits that introduce students to the world of physical primary sources–from medieval manuscripts to comic books to oral history interviews. We teach Primary Source Literacy and use active learning strategies to teach students how to handle, read, and understand rare and unique materials.  We also teach how to access materials in the Special Collections Research Center.

Open to first-year to graduate classes. Please schedule your session at least 2 weeks advance to avoid scheduling conflicts and to allow us time to prepare.

Contact us for a consultation at spcoll@appstate.edu or 828-262-4041. Or, complete this form to schedule a class. Select a Special Collections librarian from the “Librarian Selected” menu:

  • Greta Browning, Reference & Instruction Archivist; Curator for Rare Books & Manuscripts
  • Mark Coltrain, Oral Historian 
  • Emily Kader, Curator for Distinctive Collections
  • Hannah Helmey, Public Services Lecturer Librarian

Selected Past Class Visits

Students examining archival materials in the reading room
HON 3515/ART 4515, “Collaboration & Particpation in Art,” students participating in primary source analysis for Black Mountain College archival materials, Spring 2023. Taught by Dr. Jody Servon.
Students look at rare books in the Rhinehart Room

ART 3410, “Book Arts,” students examine rare books as part of a survey of book history, Spring 2023. Taught by April Flanders.

Students and faculty look at an aerial photograph of campus

UCO 1200, “The Time Machine,” students gather around an historical aerial photograph of the Appalachian State campus from the University Archives, Fall 2022. Taught by Trent Margrif.

Students participating in medieval literature analysis exercise.
ENG 4825, “The Age of Chaucer,” students participating in analysis of medieval manuscipts and texts, Fall 2022. Taught by Dr. Alison Gulley.
Two students look at a medieval manuscript with magnifying glasses
ART 3410, “Book Arts,” students examine rare books as part of a survey of book history, Spring 2023. Taught by April Flanders.