Faculty, students, community members and researchers from around the world come to Michigan State University to explore the extensive array of over 500,000 printed works in the MSU Libraries’ Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections.

The highly accessible collection includes an extensive variety of works: the largest collection of comic books in the world, rare books, cookbooks, almanacs, manuscripts and ephemera.

The ceremonial ribbon cutting celebrating the reopening of MSU Libraries’ renovated Special Collections: Left to right: Head of Special Collections Leslie McRoberts; Dean of MSU Libraries Neil Romanosky; primary donor for the Special Collections renovation – and part of its namesake – Dr; Keelung Hong; MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.; Morgan Schwarz, third-year history student and student employee at the MSU Libraries Special Collections; MSU Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko. Credit: Derrick L. Turner.

On Nov. 22, MSU Libraries celebrated the completion of a $13.8 million renovation project of the Murray and Hong Special Collections. The upgrades, which began in July 2023, include 26,000 square feet of renovations, including more than 12,000 linear feet of storage space for the libraries’ most valuable collections.

“MSU Libraries is a cornerstone of MSU’s excellence. Everybody, from every discipline or area of study or field of interest, can find something for themselves here . . . and when the libraries benefit, we all benefit,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “This space for our special collection resources will advance the success of our students, faculty, alumni and larger community for years to come, and it will ensure that future generations can build on the past success of others.”

MSU Libraries ranks in the top 25 major research libraries in North America, according to the Association of Research Libraries, a nonprofit membership organization of research libraries and archives in major public and private universities, federal government agencies, and large public institutions in the U.S. and Canada.

“We continue to build on our academic mission with the reopening of the Murray and Hong Special Collections. The relocation of the Special Collections allows faculty, staff, students and those visiting our community to access a wealth of knowledge and information more easily with greater accessibility,” said MSU Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko. “Not only will the library be able to better protect and maintain these irreplaceable items, but it also provides a space that will enhance collaboration and connection among visitors. I look forward to seeing how this space will expand opportunities for research, discovery and the continued preservation of our shared cultural experiences.”

Some of the valuable works in Special Collections include:

• the largest collection of comic books in the world;
• the first American edition of the second cookbook to be printed in the U.S. authored by Susannah Carter with plates created by Paul Revere;
• an ancient tablet from 1800 BCE Mesopotamia (a receipt for the sale of sheep in cuneiform script engraved in the clay);
• a rare 16th-century cartography text containing one of the earliest instances of the term “America” in print;
• the Radicalism and Activism collections, which provide a sweeping narrative of the history of radical movements and groups, predominately in the United States but also in other parts of the globe, from the late 19th century to the present; and
• The LGBTQ+ Collection, which holds materials ranging from archival records, ephemera, printed art, periodicals, popular literature, recorded music and zines to historic pamphlets, leaflets and manifestos that contain topics such as the Gay Liberation Movement, AIDS activism, same-sex domestic partnerships and marriage equality. MSU Libraries’ archival collections include records of local and regional organizations, as well as personal papers of members of the Michigan LGBTQIA2S+ community.

“It’s fantastic to be able to welcome folks to our new Special Collections space, which is the culmination of nearly two years of dedicated work from our staff, generous contributions from our donors and support from our students and wider community, as they had a front row seat to watching these changes take place,” said Neil Romanosky, dean of MSU Libraries. “We are especially grateful for the support of Dr. Keelung Hong, whose $5 million gift toward the renovation project made its completion possible.”

Shelves in the Special Collections are decorated with murals featuring staff members' favorite works in the collections. Credit: Derrick L. Turner.

Renovations also increased the size of the libraries’ existing rare materials vault by about 50%, from just under 1,000 square feet to approximately 1,500 square feet, and include the installation of UV-resistant film, climate control and fire suppression systems for additional protection of valuable collection materials.

Previously located in the basement of the Main Library, Special Collections will now be housed on the third floor of the Main Library’s East Wing. The new space also offers more hosting capabilities for guests who visit Special Collections. Thanks to transparent panels installed outside of the new processing rooms, there’s an opportunity for visitors to see Special Collections staff at work.

The relocation marks the first time the entire Special Collections unit is co-located, enabling further collaboration. Previously, Special Collections staff were stationed throughout the Main Library.

“I am very excited about the renovation project,” said Leslie McRoberts, head of Special Collections at MSU Libraries. “It prioritizes physical care and security of the collection while simultaneously creating a synergy among the staff who support the research engagement of our students and scholars.”

Read more on MSU Advancement.