Special Collections

The Aga Khan Library houses thousands of rare and unique items. Our special collections include manuscripts, artworks, out-of-print publications, photographs and maps produced in different periods and areas of the Muslim world. We are also the custodian of several research libraries and personal archives donated by acclaimed scholars in the field of Islamic studies.

These essential collections were donated by the late professors Annemarie Schimmel and Peter Avery, and continue to be donated by the director of The Institute of Ismaili Studies, Dr Farhad Daftary. Our library has also benefitted from the kind donation of the personal archive and library of the late Professor Mohammed Arkoun

Ottoman Collection

Farhad Daftary Collection

Annemarie Schimmel Collection

Rare Books Collection

Arkoun Archive

Comprehensively catalogued, the Arkoun Archive includes Mohammed Arkoun’s personal and professional papers, offering a complete picture of an outstanding intellectual character recognised by his peers and beyond.

The Arkoun Archive includes documents tracing Mohammed Arkoun’s early childhood, education, academic career, and involvement with global institutions. In addition, the Arkoun Archive also contains preparatory work for his teaching and lecturing activities as well as countless research notes and drafts of his publications. A substantial part of the archive consists of Professor Arkoun’s professional correspondence with fellow scholars, religious and political leaders, as well as personal letters to family and friends

Browse the Arkoun Archive

Aga Khan Library Digital Collections

In 2019, the Aga Khan Library began developing a digital collections platform. The project displays, preserves and facilitates research into a selection of materials from our special collections.

To date, the platform offers more than 200 high-quality digitisations of rare materials to researchers all over the world.

Special Collections