Idaho Collections

Spanning the 1930s-1990s, several collections of print, negative, or digital aerial images covering Idaho and nearby areas. Select maps (not individual photos) available to download.

Notable collections are Idaho Arborglyphs, Pete Cenarrusa, Espe Algeria, Moore-Cunningham-Bettis family papers, Gloria Totoricaguena, and Frank Church.

Collections, books, maps, videos, photographs, and more that document the history of Boise. Collections include Boise City Planning, Boise Redevelopment Agency, Charles Hummel, and John Bertram/Planmakers.

Many of our collections connect to Idaho’s environmental history through politics, activism, employment, conservation, or recreation. Notable collections include Frank Church, Cecil Andrus, Ted Trueblood, Snake River Alliance, Marshall C. Edson, Edward Rhodenbaugh, Robert Limbert, Len Jordan, Larry LaRocco, Bethine Church, and others.

The signature collection is the papers of Nell Shipman, silent film director/writer/producer/actress. We also collect movies about Idaho or written/produced by Idahoans, supplemented by Tom Trusky’s research on Idaho films.

Materials about individuals, politics, culture, and organizations, with a focus on 1990s to present.

Extensive holdings on Idaho authors of poetry, fiction, short stories, screenplays, and other literature, including Nell Shipman, Ted Trueblood, Scott Preston, Donna Fletcher Crow, Paul Tracy, Lorna Tracy, Charles David Wright, Glenn Balch, Clara Spiegel, William Studebaker, The Cabin, Gloria Skurzynski, Virginia Stough, William C. Anderson, Vardis Fisher, William M. Koehler, Nona Tatum Ziegler, Helen Olsen, Penelope Reedy, and others.

Ccontinuing the legacy of Tom Trusky, creators, collectors, and exhibits of mail art such as eddie Nero. 

The largest collection of M-K photographs, publications, artifacts, and other records. 

We are the repository for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Trey McIntyre Project, and also have collections about Boise vaudeville, Music Week, and Gene Harris. Of note is the complete digital collection of Ione Love Thielke, Idaho’s Musical Poem Recorder and the Peter Beemer songbook.

Our political collections span from early 20th century through early 21st century. The two largest political collections include Senator Frank Church, and Governor and Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus. Other collections include Len Jordan, Gracie Pfost, Kitty Gurnsey, Cole (Nicole) LeFavour, Larry LaRocco, Walt Minnick, and Sue Reents.

We are the repository for the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, and also hold other small religious collections including Church Women United, Stan Tate, Christ Chapel Historical Society, and Norman L. Foote.

SCA partners with the Idaho Folklife Collection, part of the Idaho Commission on the Arts

In a newly established partnership with the Record Exchange, we are collecting local and Idaho music for the Idaho Music Archive. This includes recordings (album, cassette, CD, or digital) from artists and performers, as well as materials about music from venues, studios, organizations, collectors, and more. Read more about the collection and how to donate.