Archives & Special Collections | Jerry Falwell Library | Liberty University

Archives & Special Collections

Photo of studying in the library

Archives Collection

The archives collection preserves the history of Liberty University, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Jerry Falwell Sr. ministries, and Baptist traditions in general by gathering, organizing, preserving, and providing access to relevant materials of enduring value. The materials are available to scholars and other interested parties via traditional or electronic access options as the material formats allow. Those interested in the history of Jerry Falwell Sr. or his writings may also wish to explore the Jerry Falwell Museum.

The Collection Guides provide details on items in the archives. Many of the items in the archives collection are now available in electronic format. These items can be accessed through our Digital Collections platform.

Access to the archives is governed by the Archives Policy.

Photo of archival workSpecial Collections

The purpose of the special collections of the Jerry Falwell Library is to acquire, organize, preserve, provide access, and promote primary resource materials in their original formats on select topics in support of the research, teaching, and learning mission of the university.

Special collections include but are not limited to:

  • Christian Fiction—Works by select authors which may serve as a representative cross-section of the genre for study by future generations
  • The Herbert A. Philbrick Library—Personal library of Herbert A. Philbrick (1915-1993), an undercover counterintelligence agent for the FBI who spied on the Communist Party of the United States in the 1940s
  • The James and Shelley Lutzweiler Hymnal Collection—Core collection of Christian hymnals, music instruction, and general historic music scores
  • Military Oral Histories—Oral history interviews with military and related personnel, including World War II veterans
  • The Personal Library of Grant R. Jeffrey—Private collection of bestselling Christian author and prolific teacher Grant Reid Jeffrey (1948-2012), focusing on biblical history and prophecy
  • Rowlette Civil War Book Collection—Collection of materials covering the topics of religion during the mid-nineteenth century in the United States, including the war as a religious conflict, the role of chaplains, the influence of religion on the lives of soldiers, the United States Christian Commission, and other related topics in various formats
  • Scholars Crossing—Collection of scholarship produced by students and faculty of the University, including dissertations and theses
  • Sunday School Collection—Materials related to the history of the Sunday school movement

Some of the items in the special collections are now available in electronic format. These items can be accessed through our Digital Collections platform. Collecting areas for the special collections are governed by the Special Collections Policy.


Visit us on the Terrace Level of the Jerry Falwell Library. You can email archives@liberty.edu or call (434) 592-6230 with any questions or for assistance related to Archives & Special Collections.