The Charlie Arnold print collection (1959-2012) consists of three series containing nine boxes that predominately house matte prints of artwork created by Charlie Arnold, with the exception of three photographs by his wife, June Arnold, which were exhibited March 6-27, 1989 in the Arnolds' joint exhibition at RIT entitled "Xerographs and Color Photographs." Majority of the matte prints in this collection are from Charlie Arnold's period of work in the 1980s. His artwork in this collection ranges from Xerox prints of found objects (which Arnold notes as "original objects" on the back of one print) including his first print ever produced by the Xerox copy machine, to prints of illustrations. Additionally, there is also a mounted photograph of Arnold's RIT class, a mounted poster of the film "Just Call me Charlie" directed by George M. Cochran, and an invitation to the March 9th, 1989 opening reception of "Xerographs and Color Photographs." The Charlie Arnold Collection provides a glimpse into the innovative printing techniques Arnold used in the process of creating his artwork.

The Chester Carlson Family Papers include a correspondence exchanged between Carlson and his relatives from 1951-1968, as well as letters written to the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory from 1956-1968. Perhaps most significant are the materials related to patents that Carlson developed and his writings about xerography. The collection also includes Carlson's personal journals written from 1931-1968. There are also speeches delivered byween 1954 and 1968. There is a large body of biographical materials created by Carlson as well as others who knew him. Included in the collection as scrapbooks with articles documenting Carlson's life and legacy from 1940-1968. There are also numerous items related to the Xerox Corporation, specifically the 1968 annual report, sales publications from the 1980s, as well as news and articles written about the company.

The Hazel Diamond Macy diaries, 1855-2012, the bulk of which document the writer's daily life from 1898-1942. The collection is arranged into three series: Diaries, Manuscripts and Printed Matter, and Photographs.

The Jean S. Lindsay Papers contain three series: Career, Community, and Family Papers. The Career series includes typescripts, manuscripts, correspondence, research, notes, and photographs relating, with only a few exceptions, to Lindsay's work at the Watson Archives (1980-1982). The Community series consists chiefly of correspondence and notes for the Now Nameless Bibliophiles group and a small amount of material relating to the Friends of the University of Rochester Libraries (1980s). The Family Papers series contains photographs, diaries, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, and research relating primarily to Jean S. Lindsay's paternal ancestors (the Lindsay, Hatch, and Curtice families) and her maternal ancestors (the Courter and Sampson families).

This collection includes manuscript and typescript drafts and other papers associated with novels, short stories, nonfiction and criticism, poetry and children's stories, and opera librettos. There is also correspondence with literary agents, publishers, fans, students and friends. Additionally, there are papers associated with teaching and scholarship in creative writing and medieval literature, publicity materials, photographs, interviews, articles by and about Gardner, and reviews.

The John Larish Papers are comprised of one series: Research Papers. This series includes the research materials Larish used in writing his book, Out of Focus. Materials include documents recording the history of the Eastman Kodak Company, the surrounding field of electronic photography, and associated technologies. The first box, Kodak Product History, provides some information about the Rochester area and the issues surrounding the photographic industry as the technology of digital photography developed. The bulk of the collection is arranged by date, beginning in 1970. These folders contain news and industry publications that continue through 2012. Beginning in Box 9, there are contextual materials on the structure and leadership of Kodak and its competitors, as well as notes from interviews Larish conducted with key figures in Kodak, and elsewhere in the industry. Box 10 includes a small group of photographs and Larish's notes from a trip to Japan to meet with colleagues, as well as financial reports tracking Kodak's standing in the industry from 2004 to 2008. The final box in the collection includes VHS, audio cassettes, CDs and DVDs with interview recordings.

The Mary Norbert Korte Papers consists of 10 boxes of Korte's personal papers, including correspondence, manuscript and printed material, works by other authors, printed material and ephemera, biographical documents and materials.

The National Organization for Women, Rochester Chapter Records represents local examples of action women organized during the 1970s- 2000s. This collection is divided into four series: Chapter Records, Issue Campaigns, Printed Materials and Women Against a Violent Environment. The Chapter Records include by-laws, board of director meeting minutes, a member survey and issues from the chapter newsletter. Issue Campaigns includes materials related to supporting women's reproductive health rights, welfare, equal rights and pay equity. The third series includes pamphlets and newspaper clippings documenting various issue campaigns associated with the local chapter. The Women Against a Violent Environment series includes meeting minutes and newspaper clippings from this active sub-group of NOW.

Finks' papers collected in Rare Books/Special Collections begin with writings by David Finks and then move to documentation of Finks' life and work, including material and some correspondence relating to Catholic Council of Urban Ministries, Campaign for Human Development, and the Downtown (Rochester) Community Forum. Next are Finks' personal records which are combined elements of both a journal and a scrapbook. Contained in binders, they are a combination of journal entries, articles, letters, cards, flyers, programs, and anything else that was meaningful to him. There are a few gaps, but the journals cover from 1985-2007. Finally, the last few boxes are articles and letters regarding people and issues, largely religious, of interest to Finks as well as personal correspondence and photographs.

The Rocky Simmons photographs (1920s-2008) are comprised of photographs originally assembled by Simmons in an album, plus additional materials donated by his children and family. The photos feature Simmons, his family and friends, and various locations central to his life. It also contains photographs he took as a professional photographer, featuring local events, weddings, musicians, sports teams, beauty contests, award ceremonies, and new businesses. The photographs are a unique window on the lives of Rochester's African American community at mid-20th century.