About the Collection
One of Hawaii's most enduring assets, Hamilton Library maintains and cares for rare and special collections in all fields of the humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. Libraries are the foundation upon which researchers find relationships that lead to new discoveries and, sometimes, unexpected conclusions. Using the library's special collections, researchers from around the world make connections and discoveries that contribute to our global community.
The treasures reflect the complex nature of our community and the areas of excellence within the university - especially relating to Hawai'i, the Pacific, and Asia.
This site is based on a 2005 exhibit of almost 350 objects that speak eloquently, sometimes sadly, about our unique and diverse cultural heritage here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The images on this site were created to publish in a catalog of the University of Hawaiʻi Art Gallery exhibition held from September 18 to November 10, 2005. The exhibit and catalog production was supported by a grant from the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawaiʻi and by the National Endowment for the Arts, from private contributions including the Watumull Grant for Museum Studies in the Arts, and Riánna and S.L. Williams.
Photographs and descriptions of rare books, historical documents, and photographs, letters written by Hawaii's monarchs, poignant messages from AJA servicemen during World War II, journals, prints, drawings, maps, posters, and fine examples of book design are included.
Special thanks to the following librarians who selected items, researched and wrote the information which accompanies the images:
Tokiko Bazzell (Japan)
Jim Cartwright (Archives & Manuscripts)
Kyungmi Chun (Korea)
Lynn Davis (Rare)
Monica Ghosh (South Asia)
Joan Hori (Hawaiian)
Rohayati Paseng (Southeast Asia)
Karen Peacock (Pacific)
Patricia Polansky (Russian)
Bron Solyom (Charlot)
Kuang-tien (K.T.) Yao (China)
Digitization Procedures
The original items are housed in their respective collections or the rare materials vault.