Special Collections and Archives

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A New Home for Wright State University’s Special Collections and Archives

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When the family of former Ohio governor and Dayton Daily News founder James M. Cox decided to donate his manuscript collection to Wright State University in 1967, the university’s Special Collections and Archives was born.

More than 50 years later, Wright State University Libraries’ Special Collections and Archives are entering a new era and hopefully, one day soon, a new home. Currently housed in two separate buildings of the Wright State University Libraries, we have run out of adequate space for our world-class collections.

Scholars and aviation experts come to Wright State from around the globe to see our renowned Wright Brothers Collection, first-edition works by Dayton poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, the archives of the Dayton Daily News, and countless other historic treasures.

To properly preserve and protect these priceless memories of our past, we need to relocate our Special Collections and Archives to a new home where we envision:

A reading room where students, scholars, and visitors may examine historic materials in an up close and personal way
An exhibit gallery housing rotating exhibitions that highlight the depth and breadth of our collections
A conference room for lectures, meetings, and special events
A classroom to welcome area school children and students from Wright State’s public history graduate program
A preservation lab, processing room, clean room, and exhibit prep room that will give staff the tools and space they need to adequately care for our region’s history

The facility will also provide the proper storage and climate control to preserve our historic materials for generations to come.

Above all else, it will bring history to life and celebrate the legacies of the trailblazers and pioneers who shaped the history of our region and beyond.

To help create the new home for Wright State University’s Special Collections and Archives, please contact:

Tim Littell
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Relations and University Initiatives
937-775-3615
tim.littell@wright.edu

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Special Collections and Archives news

Wright State students raise more than $59,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital at Raiderthon

March 31, 2026

Raiderthon raised more than $59,000 for Dayton Children’s Hospital, pushing its cumulative total to more than $600,000 in the last 13 years.

Wright State retains Carnegie Research 2 classification, reinforcing national research impact

March 31, 2026

Maintaining the R2 designation signals Wright State’s continued commitment to advancing discovery while training the next generation of researchers and professionals.

Wright State’s annual ArtsGala auction to spotlight student artwork

March 30, 2026

Two Wright State art students will have their work featured in the ArtsGala silent auction on April 11, showcasing their growth as artists while helping support scholarships for fine and performing arts students.

View All Special Collections and Archives news

Conceptual Plans and Renderings

Special Collections and Archives Conceptual Renderings (PDF)

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