Idaho Collections

Contact the libraries on this page to learn more about their physical and digital collections, and for help planning your research strategy. Online collections from many of these organizations can be found in our list of Digital Archives.

• • Archives
  • Directories
  • Historical & Genealogical Societies
  • Public Libraries
  • Academic Libraries
  • Museums

DIRECTORIES

Digital Library of Idaho

• Use the Digital Library of Idaho to find digital collections around the state of Idaho.

Archives West

• Archives West provides descriptions of collections in archives in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Utah. Search the directory by keyword, or browse by subject or location. – From the site: “Archives West provides access to descriptions of primary sources in the western United States, including correspondence, diaries or photographs. Digital reproductions of the materials are available in some cases.”

Directory of Archival and Manuscript Repositories in the Northwest

• Northwest Archivists Directory of Archival and Manuscript Repositories in the Northwest

ARCHIVES

Idaho State Archives

• The Idaho State Archives maintains and oversees collections of the following: state archives, manuscripts, sound recordings, film, photographic materials, oral histories, and maps. The Library branch oversees reference materials — books, periodicals, and microfilm — used by the public and staff for research.

National Archives at Seattle

• Although not an Idaho library, NARA Seattle holds Idaho records from the Atomic Energy Commission, U.S. District Courts, Department of Energy, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Land Management. Additionally, they hold a number of records from the Mine Safety and Health Administration relating to the Sunshine Mine Disaster of 1972.

HISTORICAL & GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES

 Idaho State Historical Society

• Idaho State Historical Society

Idaho Genealogical Society

• Idaho Genealogical Society

RAOGK

• Idaho Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies, Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (RAOGK)

PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Boise Public Library

• Boise Public Library maintains an Idaho collection to provide current and historical information about Boise, Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest as it relates to Idaho.

Caldwell Public Library

• Caldwell Public Library purchases general Idaho and southwest Idaho publications for a special reference collection. The library buys at least one copy of all new Caxton publications and encourages donations of out-of-print Caxton titles and local high school yearbooks.

Hailey Public Library

• Hailey Public Library manages the Martyn Mallory Photograph Collection, a unique collection of 2,500 original prints and negatives documenting the history and cultural development — and the mining and sheep ranching industries — of Central Idaho during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. HPL also collects current information on Idaho and the Wood River Valley and maintains a small Idaho Reference collection.

Find more libraries with the Idaho Library Directory.

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Boise State University

• The Idaho Collection at Boise State is part of the Special Collections at Alberstons Library.

BYU-Idaho

• BYU-Idaho Special Collections houses materials in a variety of formats, many related to the history of the upper Snake River valley.

College of Idaho

• The Cruzen-Murray Library collects books by local and Idaho authors, books about Idaho, and reprints of out-of-print Idaho titles that have received good reviews. The library does not try to collect Idaho genealogy or genre fiction.

Idaho State University

• The Idaho State University Department of Special Collections and University Archives houses items on the Intermountain West and Southeast Idaho.

North Idaho College

• Walden History Project of the North Idaho College Molstead Library includes a variety of formats. Most of the items are of regional interest.

University of Idaho

• Special Collections at the University of Idaho Library maintains special collections that focuses heavily on Idaho, as well as an Idaho Collection of state documents. The library keeps copies of all University of Idaho theses, many of which relate specifically to Idaho. The general collection also contains considerable Idaho related material. In addition, the University of Idaho Library is Idaho’s Regional Depository for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

MUSEUMS

• Explore Idaho museums with VisitIdaho.org, or browse our list of Idaho museums.

OTHER

Boise Arts & History

• Boise Arts & History is a city department that supports arts and culture in Boise. They provide searchable collections of historic and modern materials on their web site.

Idaho Center for the Book

• The Idaho Center for the Book is an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book and is currently located at Boise State University. The ICB archive contains materials related to Idaho authors. The archive includes letters, photographs, bibliographical citations, and clippings. The ICB also contains artists’ books by Idaho authors, plus information relating to artists’ books (and the artists) selected for the ICB’s biennial statewide traveling exhibition of Idaho artists’ books, “Booker’s Dozen.”

 

Updated by Ronnie Joiner on October 30, 2022.