The SDSU Archives houses a collection of rare books, artifacts, and other unique materials. Rare books, including those with special content, format, or historical value, are preserved due to their fragile or valuable nature.
Notable items include Dakota Tawaxitku Kin (1850-1852), one of the earliest Dakota language publications, as well as Vera Way Marghab's Rare Book Collection, an Evelyn T. Hubbard painting of the Old Central and Old North buildings at SDSU, four Gray's watercolors depicting SDSU scenes, illuminated manuscript pages from the 13th to 15th centuries, and the Cuneiform Tablet Collection consists of five Sumerian Cuneiform tablets from 2350-2000 BCE.