Included in this collection are materials which support the historical research and departmental strengths in the area of furniture history and design, but which are typically out of scope in terms of the traditional local, West Michigan regional and Michigan collecting of the department and the archives in particular.

Due to limitations on funding and space, this collection is not the primary acquisitions focus of the department. But, national and international furniture history and design materials which become available, primarily as gifts or transfers within the library, are housed here when they need archival housing and/or description.