With the exception of the Queen's College Special Collection, which has been accumulating since the foundation of the Glasgow School of Cookery in 1875, the University has been developing holdings of special collections since 1993.

Several collections have now been deposited, all of which enhance the research and curricula needs of the University. The main subject areas covered are left wing politics and the labour movement, and pressure groups. Some collections are wholly or partially catalogued, and records for items in these collections can be accessed via our library catalogue; some collections remain, as yet, uncatalogued. As an interim measure, lists of items in the different collections will be made available, as they are compiled, through the Special Collections web pages. Information on all collections, whatever their state of processing, can be found on the relevant web page.

The Collections comprise: The Caledonian Collection; The David Donald Collection; The Gallacher Memorial Library; The George Johannes Collection; The James & Martin Milligan Collection; The John Lenihan Collection on the History and Philosophy of Science; The Kevin Morrison Collection; The Mike Scott Collection; The Norman & Janey Buchan Collection; The Norrie McIntosh Collection; The Queen's College Special Collection; The Samuel Stewart Collection; The Sandy Hobbs Collection; The Scottish & Northern Book Distribution Co-operative Collection; The Spanish Civil War Collection; The William Kemp Collection; and The William Taylor Collection.