LaBudde Special Collections | About

LaBudde (la-BUD-ee) Special Collections is an archive and research center serving scholars and organizations from around the world. Since 1999, Special Collections has partnered with the Marr Sound Archives, its audio division, to preserve and provide access to unique research and digital resources.

Special Collections was dedicated on September 22, 2002, in honor of Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde (1920-2000), Professor of History, who served as Director of UMKC Libraries from 1950 to 1985. Dr. LaBudde was instrumental in the building of the General Library, dedicated in 1969, and its completion as the Miller Nichols Library, dedicated in 1991. His comprehensive knowledge of history and Americana shaped the department's foundation collection, the Robert M. Snyder, Jr. Collection. He also selected material for the "Z" Collection, covering fine printing and the book arts, literature, architecture, and landscape design.

The department's collection focus is the Trans-Mississippi West experience, with emphasis on Missouri and Kansas; as well as more recent cultural and local history, especially Jazz Age Kansas City. Primary and secondary source material housed in Special Collections includes manuscripts and personal papers; sheet music; photographs, postcards and other images; books, including rare and limited edition; historical periodicals; city directories; maps and atlases; historical documents and research files. Visit the collections page for more information.