The Cather family, their friends, and many donors have been very generous to the National Willa Cather Center over the years, contributing to collections that were begun by our organization's founders. As a result, the National Willa Cather Center houses the earliest Cather collections and continues to add new letters, photographs, personal items, artwork, and more, and makes them available to scholars and researchers. By clicking here, you can browse a portion of our collections available online.

Conducting Research

Researchers are encouraged to make prior arrangements for their visit with the archivist. The archives are currently staffed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Friday and by pre-arrangement. During special events like Willa Cather Spring Conference and the Willa Cather International Seminar, the archives will be unavailable for research; we appreciate your understanding.

Donating to the Collection

The National Willa Cather Center actively seeks historical materials for its core collection, consisting of materials that have a topical or direct relationship with Willa Cather, her family or associates, her public or private life, and her writing and career. Other supporting historical materials, as well as materials related to the history of Cather studies itself and the history of our organization, are also of interest. Potential donations should be coordinated through the archivist's office.

Citing the Collection

We appreciate your recognition of our collections in published and educational work. Our preferred citation includes both unique object number and collection name, as well as the repository, Willa Cather Foundation Collections & Archives at the National Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud, Nebraska.

Publishing, Exhibiting, and Broadcasting Collection Materials

Any publication of images from the National Willa Cather Center materials must be approved in writing and may be subject to a usage fee. These fees are separate from any fees which might be assigned or assessed by the copyright holder. "Publication" includes: print, electronic (online or other media), film, microfilm, or other recorded materials. Permission for image use must be obtained in advance, in writing, from the National Willa Cather Center by completing a Request for Permission to Publish, Exhibit, or Broadcast form. 

Obtaining Reproductions

You may request photocopies and digital reproductions of materials held at the National Willa Cather Center (NWCC) through the archivist's office, whenever collection materials are not at risk and whenever permitted by United States copyright law. Archive staff will make all such reproductions according to the fee schedule, and these are to be used for private study, scholarship, or research use and may not be transferred to others, further reproduced, or published without the written permission of the National Willa Cather Center and/or the individual or institution that holds copyright. Materials deemed particularly fragile may not be reproducible in all formats.