Our manuscript collections generally complement our main strengths in Furman University and South Carolina Baptist history, the history of Greenville and Upstate South Carolina and its businesses, industries, and families, and the author collections contained in the South Carolina Poetry Archives. Furman and Greenville Woman's College alumni/ae collections include memorabilia, ephemera, scrapbooks, and the occasional textile as well. Our manuscript collections contain letters, diaries, ledgers, minutes, speeches, legal documents, musical compositions, typescripts, maps, photographs, and audio-visual recordings.

In addition to these areas, Special Collections and Archives has a growing collection of over 30 medieval manuscript leaves created in Europe from ca. 1080 to 1600, and two ancient cuneiform tablets. This collection contains sacred texts (Bibles, hymnals, breviaries) and secular documents. Other manuscript collections are acquired to support student research and classroom instruction, including nineteenth century African-Americana, 20th century Britain, and other areas. 

Manuscript finding aids and collection guides provide more detailed information about our manuscript collections. Most of these finding aids and collection guides are available online.