The vast holding of the Ransom Center include collections of manuscripts, rare books, photography, theatre arts, and visual art.
Manuscript Collection: The Ransom Center's nine million manuscripts include unpublished materials, annotated typescripts, revised manuscripts, and corrected proofs, as well as personal memorabilia and correspondence. The manuscript collection is strongest in
20th-century literature, but begins in the 15th century. The principle strengths of the collections are in British, American, and French literature. Several collections are world renowned: Carlton Lake French Literary Collection, German collection, history of science,
American literature, and British literature. A sampling of authors represented are Samuel Beckett, Charlotte and Emily Brontë, Robert Browning, Lord Byron, Graham Green, Lillian Hellman, James Joyce, D. H. Lawrence, Arthur Miller, Anne Sexton, George Bernard Shaw, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Dylan Thomas, and Tennessee Williams.
Rare Book Collection: The Ransom Center's one million rare books include examples of first and subsequent editions, translations, abridgements, fine printing, noteworthy bookbindings, and books on vellum, as well as historically important or unusual books by famous writers, novelists, poets, and dramatists. Highlights of the collection include a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, the Medici Collection of Italian history (1502-1800), Ptolemaic papyri (3rd to 1st century B.C.), three Shakespeare first folios, and the Pforzhgeim Library of English Literature (1475- 1700). Also included are the personal libraries of famous individuals such as James Joyce, Evelyn Waugh, and e. e. cummings. A variety of archival collections from publishing companies, literary agents, book dealers, writers' organizations, small presses, and magazines provide a broad context for literary study. Further documentation comes from important literary presses: Aldine Press (1495-1588), Elsevier Press, F