Ismaili Special Collections
In 2013 the IIS established the Ismaili Special Collections Unit (ISCU) as part of its continuing endeavours to systematically preserve, develop, digitise and catalogue special collections. ISCU was also formed to study and facilitate research on these materials, in order to contribute to the IIS’s vision of promoting scholarship on the heritage of Ismaili communities and that of other Muslim groups. These special collections have been at the heart of the research, publications and educational programmes undertaken by the IIS over the years.
Texts, Scribes and Transmission
Manuscript Cultures of the Ismaili Communities and Beyond
This open access volume brings together studies offering insights on different aspects of manuscript cultures nurtured by Ismaili communities until well after the widespread dissemination of printed books.
This book is now available to read and download free of charge from Bloomsbury Open Access.
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Oral History Project
As a part of IIS’ heritage stewardship initiatives, the Oral History Project by the Ismaili Special Collections Unit is dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of local histories, representing the intangible cultural heritage of the diverse Ismaili communities worldwide.
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