Early American collections in the Kislak Center include both manuscripts and printed materials, with notable strengths including literature; travel and exploration narratives; Judaica; and music.
The Kaplan Collection documents commercial, social, religious, political, and cultural ties that connected Jews and the general public from the colonial era through the nineteenth century.
Penn's libraries are home to a wide range of special and general collections related to the Holy Land.
The Lorraine Beitler Collection of the Dreyfus Affair comprises over 1,000 items documenting the history of the Dreyfus Affair and its impact on the art, society, and politics of France and the modern world.
An important part of the Penn Libraries’ medieval manuscript holdings derive from the library of the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning. This collection is particularly strong in Judeo-Arabic manuscripts.
The Robert and Molly Freedman Jewish Sound Archive is among the most important resources in the world for the study of Jewish culture, folklore, history, linguistics, and literature through the medium of sound.