Archives and Special Collections: Donate

If you are unsure whether you should donate materials to us, please contact us! We are happy to answer questions about our facilities and whether we would be interested in accepting specific items. Areas of items we are interested in expanding within our collection are listed below.

If you plan to donate, please take the time to view our Donation and Gift Guideline Policy. Our Materials Donation form is also available on that page.

We are always looking to strengthen our collections through new materials related to Des Moines University history and medical history.

The areas that we are most interested in currently expanding are:

• Osteopathy
• Podiatry
• Personal papers
• Personal accounts of the University
• DMU related audio/visual materials
• Women and People of Color at DMU
• Still Family
• Medical equipment

Our Mission

The Des Moines University Library's Archives and Special Collections collects, organizes, describes, preserves, and provides access to materials relating to the institutional history and legacy of Des Moines University as well as the history of medicine. These actions will allow the Archives and Special Collections to provide information about and understanding of the past as a way to educate diverse and compassionate medical professionals and members of the community going forward. 

Our Facilities

The Kendall Reed Rare Book Room was built to house our special collections and archival materials. It was constructed with a vapor barrier to protect against humidity, with no direct sunlight to prevent exposure by harmful UV rays, its own HVAC system for optimal temperature and humidity control, and air filters. These provide optimal conditions to ensure the perpetuity of our materials.