The Canisius College Archives Balling Special Collections Room contains unique and rare items. These include books, manuscripts and collections related to the history of Canisius, Jesuits and western New York.
The Archives preserves and protects these items while also making them accessible to the College community and researchers.
The Balling Special Collections Room opened in 1988. It consists of approximately 3,000 items. Additions are made through the generosity of alumni donors and interested patrons.
The collection includes: medieval manuscripts, such as illuminated books of hours; a rare 1483 Koburger Bible and other early printed Bibles; the Joseph P. Desmond Collection of Irish literature, history and culture; the history of the Jesuits; and, facsimilies of the Gutenberg Bible, the Book of Kells, and others.
Items in Special Collections can be found through the library catalog.