A manuscript collection is a valuable resource for historians, researchers and students studying literature, history, culture and art. There are several synonyms for manuscript collection, including archives, rare books, documents, written works and literary materials. Archives refer to a collection of documents; rare books and documents refer to manuscripts that are difficult to find; written works refer to any piece of writing, including manuscripts and published works; and literary materials refer to written works of art, such as novels, poetry, and plays. Whatever term you use, these collections provide an insight into the past, and are an essential source for researchers and students eager to understand the development of culture and society.