The Manuscripts, Personal Papers and Local History Collections focus on regional events, topics, places and people, particularly the Civil War, the Cherokees, UTC, and Chattanooga. Other topics in the Special Collections include literature, politics, religion and art. There are also papers of local citizens, authors, historians, politicians, and former University faculty and administrators. These collections often include their correspondence, early drafts of published works, memorabilia, and business and work-related documents. There are also historical documents and collections. There are finding aids and container lists for many collections. (Image: Lookout Mountain, from a 1902 post card.)

The collections break down into the following categories (click on link for listing of collections within the category):

History Collections (Local, Civil War, Cherokee Indians, Scopes Trial, World War I and II, General)

Political Collections

Art, Music, and Literature Collections

Religion Collections