Literary Manuscripts in the Classroom: Using Manuscript Collections to Engage Undergraduate Students

Special collections librarians need to find new ways to engage undergraduate students. One way to engage students is to approach faculty members with innovative ways to integrate special collections materials into their curriculum. At Bowling Green State University, the rare books librarian developed an outreach opportunity for undergraduate students to examine the literary process from manuscript to publication. Using the collection, she created packets for students that gave them the opportunity to track editorial changes. This article discusses the development and implementation of this project and ends with tips for others interested in using literary manuscripts in the classroom.