The department's subject collections include the visual arts, music, the performing arts and the decorative arts. The visual arts encompass drawing and painting, sculpture, the graphic arts and photography. These subjects are all collected at the independent study level. Architecture, on the other hand, is collected at the research level, and is centered on the Steedman Architectural Library. This is an endowed collection, begun with the donation of the private collection of industrialist George Fox Steedman in 1930.
Music is collected at the independent study level.
There is a notable collection of scores and songbooks dating back to the late nineteenth century, which is used extensively by local musicians. The collection is especially strong in classical and standard popular music, theatrical and operatic works, and worldwide national and ethnic music. There are still significant remnants of a once sizable collection of long-playing records, and a small selection of cassette tapes. The performing arts include theatre, dance, radio, film and television, and it is intended that they be collected to the independent study level. The decorative arts include landscape design, interior design, furniture, folk art, jewelry, costume and fashion, and work in ceramics, metal, wood, glass, etc.