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McCracken Research Library

Find out what goes on in the Center of the West’s McCracken Research Library and get an insider’s look at the incredible photographs, archives, and manuscripts housed and processed by the library’s staff—who are still making some amazing finds within the collections.

September 2, 2026

Rare Book Highlights: The Indians’ Book

The Myth of the Vanishing Indian In the early twentieth century, North America was facing the consequences of the previous century’s rapid…

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July 30, 2026

Revolutionary Readers: The Library as a Symbol for Freedom 

In 18th-century America, a book was not merely an object for reading–it was a luxury item, a status symbol, and for the average colonist,…

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Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers: Margaret Thompson-Murdock’s Competitive Shooting Legacy

Believe it or not, two of the world’s best sharpshooters were not men. First came Annie Oakley (1860-1926). Around age 8 she…

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July 20, 2026

The Myth of the Fully Processed Archive

When you think of an archive, you probably imagine countless collections all perfectly organized and described down to the last scrap of paper. You may…

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July 2, 2026

Heart Mountain Through the Lens

Each July, former detainees, their families and descendants, gather at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center for the annual pilgrimage to reflect and…

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June 30, 2026

Speaking in Code: Rare Winchester Telegraph Code Books 

Among the rarest items in the McCracken Research Library’s archival collections are three Winchester Telegraph Code Books from 1905 and 1909. At first glance they look like…

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