Donations

The Ray & Pat Browne Library for Popular Culture Studies has worked with its donors for more than 50 years to accumulate one of the most unique and expansive collections of American popular culture held by any academic institution. As we look towards the next 50 years, we will continue to rely on the generosity of our donors and look for intentional collection development to enhance our collections and diversify its holdings.  

Below is a non-exhaustive list of topics that may be a good fit in the Browne Popular Culture Library. However, before sending any items, please contact the Head Librarian Sasha Kim to confirm.

• Media (TV, Film, Podcasts, Streaming Video) Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production Materials, such as scripts, press kits, set photographs, costuming materials, DVDs, casting materials, awards, special effects and makeup, and more.
• Archival Manuscripts and Papers, such as author manuscripts, original research, media production notes, personal papers, and other archival collections that document aspects of American popular culture.
  
• Collectible or First Edition Genre Fiction, such as romance, mystery, manga/graphic novels, adventure, science fiction/fantasy, horror, or any combination of genres.
• Zines, like fanzines, perzines, comix, art zines, DIY zines, food zines, etc.
• Concept art, original art, sketchbooks, and black books relating to video games, board games, anime and animation, street art, tattoo art, comic/cartoonist art, etc.
• Video Gaming Materials, such as systems, video games, strategy guides, periodicals/magazines, etc.
• Magazines and Periodicals, especially magazines that are for underrepresented communities.
• Advertising and trade ephemera, such as mail order catalogs, advertising trade cards, ink blotters, promotional items, marketing strategies, business-to-business catalogs, and more.
• Materials relating to:
  • LGBTQIA+ communities
  • Latinx American culture
  • Black American culture
  • Indigenous culture
    
  • Asian Pacific Islander Desi American culture
  • American immigrant culture
  • Women and girl culture
  • American subcultures
  • American counterculture

For further information, please contact BPCL staff for the proper procedures that involve the accepting of gifts-in-kind and donations according to university policies. We also accept cash donations via our online donation portal. Monetary donations give us the resources to acquire and process unique popular culture collections, and to share those materials with our research community.