Acquired in 1982, the William J. Griffith Collection on Central America is the fruit of some forty years of collecting by the KU Professor Emeritus of Central American history. Remarkably comprehensive, including books, newspapers, broadsheets, printed ephemera and manuscripts, the collection is focused on Guatemala with particular emphasis on the period from the late 18th century to about 1920.

Although all aspects of Guatemalan history and society are treated, there is particular wealth in the printed ephemera (hundreds of broadsides), regional Guatemalan newspapers, and the history of education. The collection also includes substantial material on the Central American Republic.