The MIT Libraries Department of Distinctive Collections (DDC) collects, preserves, and makes available the Libraries’ unique and rare materials. DDC comprises three broad collecting programs – Institute Archives, the Aga Khan Documentation Center, and Distinctive Materials in Science and Technology. These programs collectively focus on the expansive history of science and technology, and architecture, with a particular emphasis on MIT’s contributions. Our materials range across subjects, time periods, languages, and formats, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of research and teaching at MIT.
Here are new acquisitions brought into the collections in 2025. Some materials are accessible today, while others are being processed and cataloged and will be available soon.
Image of International Space University Founding Conference poster, 1987, Pat Rowlings
Available now
- Tech Coeds song parodies
- Additions of posters to the Collection on Community Activism
- Additions to the David Epstein papers (music professor, conductor of the MIT Symphony Orchestra)
- Additions to the Eric Hodgins papers (managing editor of Technology Review, author of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House)
- Additions to the Sloan School of Management Oral History Project (John D. Little memorial materials)
- Office of the Provost, records of L. Rafael Reif
- Materials on MIT News for MIT Parents
- 2025 MIT Theses
- Cataloged Publications:
- Like the waters we rise : posters, photos and objects from the front lines of the climate justice movement, 1968-2022 Booklyn (Organization), sponsoring body.; Interference Archive, sponsoring body.; Radix Media (Firm), printer.; De Anda, Raquel, author, curator.; MacPhee, Josh, artist, author, curator.; Amsterdam, L. J., author.; Purcell, Jesse, printer.; Solnit, David, printer. 2022
- Fauna fables Aly, Islam, book artist. 2024
- The book of mud Cherri, Ali, 1976- book artist.; Dongola Limited Editions, publisher.; Mounzer, Lina, contributor.; Janjelo, Mariam, contributor.; Abedini, Reza, book designer.; Barakat, Lama, book designer.; Dabaji, Kassem, photographer.; Youssef, Riad, binder, printer.; Lavenu, Frantz, brickmaker.; Samara, Salim, printer.; Elhajj, Tanya, binder.; Cherri, Ali, 1976- signer. 2019
- Boxed in? : what where why Dhatt, Insiya, book artist. 2021
- La prose du Transsibérien re-creation Maryatt, Kitty, book artist.; Delaunay, Sonia.; Seibert, Richard, printer.; Cendrars, Blaise, 1887-1961.; Two Hands Press (Los Angeles, Calif.), publisher. 2018
- Timbuktu, artist’s book. Mitchell, Sauda, 1981- book artist. 2021
- I kill you in dreams. Sezen, Beldan, 1967- book artist.; Booklyn (Organization) 2023
- Duster 2 Silverberg, Robbin Ami.; Dobbin Books 2001
- A good wife is the best piece of furniture : (Dutch, German, Danish). Silverberg, Robbin Ami, artist.; Dobbin Books. 2007?
- Not all nice houses are good to spend the night in : (Bambara, Mali). Silverberg, Robbin Ami, artist.; Dobbin Books. 2007?
- A wife is serviceable in every room : (Dutch). Silverberg, Robbin Ami, artist.; Dobbin Books. 2007?
- Eglises de village de la Syrie du nord. Tchalenko, Georges.; Baccache, E.; Institut français d’archéologie du Proche-Orient. 1979-1980
- Eglises de village de la Syrie du nord. Tchalenko, Georges.; Baccache, E.; Institut français d’archéologie du Proche-Orient. 1979-1980
- Eglises syriennes à bêma : texte Tchalenko, Georges. 1990
- A meta-torium on life Adeyemi, Oyinade, author, printer.; Arellano, Francisco (Researcher in nuclear science), author, printer.; Do, Thao, author, printer.; Kummel, Koko, author, printer.; Raybuck, Rachel, author, printer.; Rethman, Brooke, author, printer.; Santi, Bianca, author, printer.; Tepe, Cem, author, printer.; Vliet, Aaron, author, printer.; Vu, Kiet, author, printer.; Wang, Margaret (Margaret Q.), author, printer. 2022
- L’Égypte a petites journées : Le Kaire et ses environs Rhoné, Arthur, 1836-1910. 1877
- Late monuments 6. Srouji, Dima, artist. 2024
- Stucco and colored glass window replicas with carving and engraving tools. El-Deeb, Mohamed, artist.; Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Documentation Center (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), commissioning body. 2024
- Stucco and colored glass window with flowers in a vase design. between 1770 and 1840
- Stucco and colored glass window with peacock design. between 1770 and 1840
- Stucco and colored glass window with cypress tree design. between 1770 and 1840
Coming soon
- Clarence G. Williams personal archives (urban studies and planning, Special Assistant to the President and Chancellor for Minority Affairs, Dir. of Minority Education, founder and Dir. of the MIT Black History project)
- Florence W. and James W. Harris papers (linguistics, theoretical phonology and morphology. Together they wrote and published a history and origins of the MIT linguistics program)
- Additions to the MIT Libraries records
- School of Engineering faculty records
- Sloan School of Management Financial Technology Option certificate program records
- MIT Corporation Risk and Audit Committee records
- Additions to the Edward E. David Jr. papers
- International Space University Conference poster
- Adele Santos personal archives (architecture and planning, Dean of the SA+P, Center for Advanced Urbanism at MIT)
- Mechanical Engineering faculty and departmental records
- Additions to the Interviews of the Margaret MacVicar Memorial AMITA Oral History Project
- Additions to the Visiting Committee reports
- MindHandHeart program records
- Institute Events videos
- Additions to the Ruth Perry personal archives
- MIT Spouses and Partners program records
- Additions to the Lotte Bailyn papers
- Additions to the Academic Council records
- Additions to the Victor McElheny papers
- Office of the Vice President, records of Claude Canizares
- Additions to the David Baltimore papers
To see any of these collections or items, follow the instructions on our website or fill out our contact form with any questions. Please note that some records may be closed for a set time frame due to Institute access restrictions or donor restrictions.
