UMKC LaBudde Special Collections & University Archives

08/17/2026

A new academic year starts Monday, August 24! The Special Collections and Archives Reading Room on the third floor of UMKC Libraries will have the following hours August 24-December 18:
Monday - 9:30AM-4:00PM
Tuesday - 9:30AM-4:00PM
Wednesday - 9:30AM-4:00PM
Thursday - By Appointment Only (book one between 9:30AM-4:30PM)
Friday and Weekends - Closed

The Reading Room will also close during Labor Day (September 7), Fall Break (October 8-9), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Break (November 23-27), and Winter Break (December 21-January 1). We hope to see you this fall!

Photo: Students reading, 1959. From LaBudde Special Collections and University Archives.

08/14/2026

Visit the latest exhibit in the Special Collections Gallery, "Alex Steinweiss: Inventor of the Album Cover", on the third floor of UMKC Libraries Miller Nichols Library, from now through December 2026:

Alex Steinweiss: Inventor of the Album Cover

07/01/2026

Help us keep the Edgar Snow Digital Collection Project going! Our sister department Digital Projects received a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant for this fiscal year, allowing them to host a 7.5 month fellowship. The Digital Projects Fellow will continue the work on the Snow digital project. Interested? Currently enrolled graduate students or recently graduated students from any graduate program (within 6 months) need to apply by July 10. Short cover letter required. Link to apply here: https://erecruit.umsystem.edu/psp/tamext/KCITY/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&SiteId=8&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=8&JobOpeningId=60036&PostingSeq=1

Photo: Journalist Edgar Snow reads "China in World Affairs", undated. Edgar Snow Collections, UMKC University Archives.

07/01/2026

Take a tour of the UMKC GLAMA - Gay and Le***an Archive of Mid-America on Saturday, July 18 from 2:00PM-3:30PM! Materials will be gathered from across archival collections and arranged by theme, and we'll provide context for everything on display. Tour also includes a behind-the-scenes peek at how the archives are created and managed! Parking in the lots north of the Library building is available for attendees. Registration is required, and you can do so at the link here: https://libcal.library.umkc.edu/event/16627968?hs=a

Take a tour of the Gay and Le***an Archive of Mid-America! Materials will be gathered from across archival collections and arranged by theme, and we'll provide context for...

04/23/2026

Thanks to our attendees who joined us for UMKC Libraries' Introducing the Digital Archives of Edgar Snow! Those who missed the virtual event can watch the recording on YouTube! https://youtu.be/PbsV93wpSno?si=H-jM5hZ-ddpQrgJ3 Want to help us meet more of our project goals? Donate to University Archives and the Edgar Snow Collections here: https://library.umkc.edu/sca/university-archives/donate/

Special thanks go to:
🌐 Missouri Humanities for the generous grant that funded Digital Project Fellow Anh Vo's work on the Snow digital archives project.

🌐 Anh Vo for sharing an update on her work, including more than 4000 scanned images and more than 3000 metadata descriptions.

🌐 Sun Hua and Xue Wang of Peking University for sharing current partnerships between US and Chinese universities and scholars.

🌐 Mēgan Oliver, UMKC Head of Digital Projects, for hosting and moderating the event.

🌐 Team University Archives Becky Becker and Coryell Deege for the virtual tour and show-and-tell in the Edgar Snow Reading Room.

2 likes. "Introducing the Digital Archives of Edgar Snow"

04/21/2026

There's still time to register for our virtual event, Introducing the Digital Archives of Edgar Snow, happening this evening, April 21 at 8:00PM Central Standard Time!

The Digital Projects team invites you to an international virtual presentation sharing our project to make the Snow Archives available online to researchers across the globe. ...

04/16/2026

Unable to visit the Edgar Snow Reading Room in person? Want a sneak peek at the Edgar Snow Digital Collection & Exhibition before it goes live in Summer 2026? Tune in to UMKC Libraries Digital Projects team's international virtual presentation, Introducing the Digital Archives of Edgar Snow! Join us Tuesday, April 21 at 8PM US Central Standard Time, which is Wednesday, April 22 at 9AM China Standard Time. Register here:

The Digital Projects team invites you to an international virtual presentation sharing our project to make the Snow Archives available online to researchers across the globe. ...

04/16/2026

What have UMKC University Archives & Digital Projects been up to? 👀We're continuing the hard work to bring the Edgar Snow Digital Collection & Exhibition to life! In the meantime, please feel free to check out our Edgar Snow Reading Room in the Special Collections & Archives Reading at UMKC Libraries https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWpSEdviUHN/

04/08/2026

The UMKC Libraries, in collaboration with the The University of Kansas, are proud to announce a multi-year partnership to preserve the physical and digital archives of Stand Up KC and the Missouri Workers Center. This landmark collection, documenting years of grassroots organizing for fair wages and labor rights, will be permanently housed in UMKC LaBudde Special Collections & University Archives. More info here:

Archive established for Stand Up KC

03/12/2026

Kansas City community and beyond! Have you used UMKC LaBudde Special Collections & University Archives or UMKC Marr Sound Archives services lately? Now through March 20, the UMKC Libraries are gathering feedback to plan for the Libraries' next chapter. We invite you to share your perspective via the 2026 Library Survey: https://umkc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0j3kWYU2SgKLmT4
Photo credit: Coeds on Scofield Hall (Old Admin Building) Rear Stairs, 1936. UMKC University Archives.