Harry W. Bass Business History Collection
Information
The Harry W. Bass Business History Collection began in 1955 with the purpose of collecting and preserving materials relating to the history of business and industry. The collection contains more than 22,000 books, microforms, videos and journals on a number of topics including the histories of business leaders and firms and the economic, social and political forces that influence the role of business in society. Over 100 linear feet of archives focus on the history of business in the 19th and 20th centuries.
View information about our collection materials below. For more help, visit our Bass History of Business Research Guide.
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.
Plan a Research Visit
Anyone can use the Harry W. Bass Business History Collection materials regardless of their university affiliation or geographic location. We require appointments to view collections in person, as many of our materials are stored offsite. Our staff are available for in-person, virtual, and email consultations if you need assistance with your research. Collection materials may not be check out and are made available for use in the Duane H.D. Roller Reading Room on the 5th floor of Bizzell Memorial Library.
To view materials in person, request an appointment.
To request assistance with distance research, please email us.
Visit our Research Services page for more information.
Plan an Instruction Session
The Special Research Collections user services team welcomes discussions with faculty about integrating primary sources from our collections into teaching and research activities.
Visit our Instruction Services page to learn more.
Search Our Collections
You can use these links to identify research materials:
- Archival Collection Finding Aids: This database contains inventories, also known as finding aids, for archival collections in Special Research Collections.
- Library Catalog: This database includes records for books, journals, and archival collections located in the Special Research Collections at the University of Oklahoma Libraries.
- Digital Collections: This repository provides access to digitized archival collections and rare books. Please note that any collection available online is not available for in-person research.
You can also find these resources on the Search Special Research Collections page.
Notable Initiatives
New Digital Collections Platform
The University Libraries is beta testing a new digital repository platform. The purpose of the University of Oklahoma Libraries' digital collections is to provide free online public access to high-resolution digital images of OU Libraries Special Research Collections materials to enhance scholarship, teaching, and community engagement. We invite you to explore the new beta site and share your feedback to help us improve.
Contribute to the Collections
Thank you for considering a donation to the Harry W. Bass Business History Collection. For information about the types of donations we accept and how to contribute, please visit the Contribute to the Special Research Collections page.
FAQ
Appointments are required for visits to OU Libraries Special Research Collections. Consultation with a librarian is recommended prior to requesting an appointment. Please see our Research Services page for more information.