The Special Collections of BPS Archives typically exist because of the innate or discovered notoriety of an individual who has a definable connection with BPS, because of a special event or because of a special subject matter. 

While the existence of a special collection indicates that most or all artifacts associated with the special collection are to be found there, this is not uniformly true and researchers are encouraged to have secondary research plans.   

The Special Collections Index identifies all special collections (subject to annual adjustments). Items in a special collection noted in the Special Collections Index, but found within BPS Archives itself, are greater in number and diversity than items found virtually here, either because such items are not yet within the actual collection or have not been digitized for inclusion in this virtual archive.