Latin American History and Culture
Catherwood, Frederick. Views of ancient monuments in Central America, Chiapas and Yvcatan. London, F. Catherwood, 1844.
Cornell University Library offers exceptional collections covering the more than 40 nations, colonies, territories and commonwealths that make up Latin America, extending from the Mexican border with the United States to the end of the South American landmass, near the Antarctic Circle, and including the islands of the Caribbean. The Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections features an extensive collection of books and manuscripts, including early government documents, part of the Herbert H. Smith Collection; rare books on travel and exploration from the 15th century onwards, a particular strength of the Francis Hull Collection, purchased in 1952; the archival records of anthropologists active in Latin America; the records of Cornell's research programs in the region; materials documenting the Spanish American War; contemporary travel and tourism guides; and outstanding collections on the archaeology, ethnology and history of the native peoples of the Americas held in the Huntington Free Library Native American Collection.
Current Latin American holdings throughout Cornell's 20 unit libraries exceed 300,000 monographic volumes and 4,000 periodical titles, placing Cornell among the nation's ten largest Latin American collections. The majority of Cornell's Latin American materials are located in Olin Library, which houses the university's main circulating collections in the humanities and social sciences. Olin Library's collections support and reflect the history of Cornell's Latin American Studies Program and the research interests of its members. Exceptional collecting depths in anthropology, history, and literature are the results of Cornell's research and teaching strengths in those subjects. The Andean region (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador) became an early focus of collection building, as Cornell social scientists were prominent in pioneering relationships and scholarship there. Peru was Cornell University Library's responsibility under the Farmington Plan and successive national acquisitions agreements. Currently, the Library retains a responsibility for maintaining research-level collections of Peruvian and Bolivian imprints. A long-term interest in Brazil, especially in its history, makes the Portuguese-speaking area of South America another area with strong library holdings.