John and Mary Nichols Rare Books & Special Collections

The John and Mary Nichols Rare Books and Special Collections are comprised of more than 15,000 rare books and special materials in English, European, and American literatures dating from the 15th century to the present. The university established the collection in 2001 to promote scholarship in the field of English literature and to provide stewardship for the general collection of rare books within the library system.

The collections contain a broad spectrum of key titles and authors in English literature from 17th century through the 20th century. Most major English literary figures are represented, often by first edition or rare limited editions of their works. Among these is the rare Smithwick first issue of Shakespeare’s Second Folio, published in 1632 and the 1678 edition of John Milton’s Paradise Lost. Also present are works by Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, Cervantes, Dante, Arthur Conan Doyle, Victor Hugo, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, and Mark Twain. A collection of general rare books, including incunabula, bibles, books on English history, and 17th and 18th century English plays, complement the focal literature collections.

In addition to the Dickens Collection, several named collections are held within the Nichols Collections, including the Bob Burke Bible Collection and the Lois Lenski Children’s Literature Collection. These holdings offer outstanding opportunities for research and teaching over a wide range of fields, including fine arts, folklore, history, law, literary studies, politics, publishing and book history, religious studies and theatre.

The Collections are named for John and Mary Nichols, longtime supporters of the University of Oklahoma and OU Libraries.

All visitors are required to follow the Special Research Collections' reading room policies. The policies include no food or drinks and leaving bags in the designated lockers.