BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives

BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives, David O McKay Library, Room 220 311 S Center Street, Rexburg, ID.

Special Collections & Archives houses items unique to University history and campus curriculum, the history of the Upper Snake River Valley, and changes in record keeping.

This Sunday, September 6, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square remembers the Teton Dam Flood and the miracles that foll...
09/04/2026

This Sunday, September 6, the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square remembers the Teton Dam Flood and the miracles that followed it. Listen to this week's broadcast of "Music & the Spoken Word," beginning at 9:30 a.m. (MDT), featuring images from the BYU-Idaho Special Collections & Archives.
Click the link in our bio for the broadcast!

08/19/2026

Interested in history, languages, or big rocks? Come see our very own, true-to-size replica of the Rosetta Stone!
The Rosetta Stone, a granite-like rock fragment with text carved in three different languages, was the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics and subsequently opening up all of Egyptian culture to the modern world.
For years, the McKay Library has been actively collecting materials related to the history of writing, and the Rosetta Stone is a keystone of our collection!
Visit the Stone in the hallway just past MCK 230, check out our website about it at https://spc.byui.edu/exhibits/exhibitions/119-the-rosetta-stone, or stop by Special Collections in MCK 226 to learn more about our History of Writing collection!

Have you ever heard of this Idaho author? Vardis Fisher (1865-1968) was born in Annis, Idaho, and lived in the state for...
08/18/2026

Have you ever heard of this Idaho author? Vardis Fisher (1865-1968) was born in Annis, Idaho, and lived in the state for most of his life. Despite having lived and taught in Chicago and New York City, as well as having traveled to Europe and the Middle East, Fisher always returned to his home state and spent the last 28 years of his life living and writing in Hagerman, Idaho, in a house he built with his own hands.
Over the course of his career he wrote nearly 40 books, including several volumes of short stories or poetry, as well as a multitude of newspaper columns and essays. Many of his novels received much critical acclaim, and one was even adapted into a film in 1972.
To learn more about Vardis Fisher or to read some of his writings, come visit Special Collections on the second floor of the McKay Library.

Looking for something to do this weekend? The Clark Hill Rest Area is less than an hour away and has lots to offer. With...
08/18/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend? The Clark Hill Rest Area is less than an hour away and has lots to offer. With picnic tables, walking paths, and a stunning Snake River overlook, it's the perfect place to spend an afternoon! Thanks to Bonneville County Historical Society, there's even a surprising bonus.
A memorial stone pays tribute to Vardis Fisher (1895-1968), an author who lived and wrote in and about Idaho. Stop by Special Collections in the McKay Library to learn more about him and read his books.
Let us know if you've been to the Clark Hill Rest Area and what your experience was like!

Between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. on June 5, 1976, several families gathered on a hill in Rexburg. They watched the Teton Dam f...
07/31/2026

Between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. on June 5, 1976, several families gathered on a hill in Rexburg. They watched the Teton Dam flood approach. They had nowhere else to go, and nothing to do but wait.
You can see the flood getting closer. Frame by frame. This is what it looked like when a town stood still.

Come see the Higher Ground exhibit in MCK 226 while it's still up!
Our summer hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Congratulations BYU-Idaho graduates!Did you know? Until 1955, Ricks College graduates would parade from campus to the Re...
07/23/2026

Congratulations BYU-Idaho graduates!
Did you know? Until 1955, Ricks College graduates would parade from campus to the Rexburg Tabernacle, where commencement ceremonies would take place.
In 1956, the procession changed to take place across campus only.
Happy graduation, and congratulations on being part of a 138-year-long legacy!

On this day, July 21, Joe J. Christensen, 12th president of Ricks College, was born. He served as president from 1985-19...
07/21/2026

On this day, July 21, Joe J. Christensen, 12th president of Ricks College, was born. He served as president from 1985-1989. During his time as president, the college reached its enrollment limit of, at the time, 7,500 students.
As Ricks College celebrated its centennial in 1988, President Christensen reminded all those involved with the school that, despite the many great institutional and spiritual accomplishments of the previous century, there remained "summits yet to climb." He urged students and faculty — both as individuals and as part of the university — never to stop striving for excellence beyond the present achievements.
As part of the centennial celebrations, a new "summit" logo was created for Ricks College, elements of which have been incorporated into the BYU-Idaho 25 Years logo.

Twelve years ago, on a July afternoon, the sky over Rexburg opened and turned the city into a river. What started as a h...
07/15/2026

Twelve years ago, on a July afternoon, the sky over Rexburg opened and turned the city into a river. What started as a heavy storm quickly became something no one expected: a flood that swept through homes, streets, and the BYU-Idaho campus.
Students were displaced. Basements were filled with water. The campus, usually a place of learning and routine, became a center of resilience.
Today, those images of water and mud remain in the memory of those who lived through it. But what endures the most is not the flood itself—it’s the strength that followed. BYU-Idaho and Rexburg stood firm, and twelve years later, that day is a reminder that even in the middle of the storm, people find ways to care for one another.

07/15/2026

On this day, July 15, in 2014, BYU-Idaho campus flooded. These are just some of the images and videos from that day.
Were you in Rexburg when this happened? Let us know what you remember!

Happy 4th of July!In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Teton Dam Flood, here's a look at how Rexburg celebrated Ameri...
07/03/2026

Happy 4th of July!
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Teton Dam Flood, here's a look at how Rexburg celebrated America's 200th birthday, less than a month after disaster had struck the town.
How are you celebrating this weekend?

Address

David O McKay Library, Room 220 311 S Center Street
Rexburg, ID
83460

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 7pm

Telephone

+12084969540

Website

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