The U.S. Catholic Special Collection preserves records of the Catholic Church and Catholic life in the United States. It also supports the University’s doctoral program in religious studies focusing on the U.S. Catholic experience. This collection shows the commitment of the University of Dayton to the history and heritage of the Catholic Church in the United States and its intellectual and popular traditions. The collection is located on the third floor of Roesch Library.

The collection is comprehensive and includes retrospective and contemporary works in different languages, formats and media, as well as objects used by American Catholics in their religious practice. The collection is strong on official church documents, theology, religious orders active in the United States, school textbooks, biographies, and books and serials used or published by various Catholic immigrant groups.

The University's archives chronicle its development into a top Catholic and Marianist institution of higher learning. Materials date from 1850, when St. Mary’s Institute was founded as a grammar school for boys, to the present. The archives include records created by University departments, records of student organizations, alumni and faculty papers, student theses and dissertations, photographs and audiovisual recordings, and University publications.

The eclectic rare books collection includes manuscripts as well as early and limited edition books. Additional special collections highlight sports, the arts, politics and the pursuits of UD alumni. These collections contain rare prints, drawings, photographs, maps, art objects and audiovisual recordings.