Accounting Libraries

National Library of the Accounting Profession

The National Library of the Accounting Profession houses literally hundreds of periodical titles, including essentially every accounting title in the English language. Periodicals include state society newsletters and scholarly journals. Books include virtually everything published since 1900 and many older items dating back as far as Pacioli's Summa from 1494.

Many of the AICPA's materials were of an archival nature, and the University has a large and respected archival department. Thus, most pre-1900 volumes are in the University Archives. Also, many of the pamphlet-type materials that were printed on acidic paper are now being preserved by archives staff. Professional archival treatment is the only way these items, which number in the thousands, will survive into the next decade.

Research services are available through a help desk managed by library staff and School of Accountancy graduate students. Questions regarding interpretation or application of laws, regulations, or standards should be directed to the AICPA Technical Hotline at (888)-777-7077. By agreement with the AICPA, the Williams Library at Ole Miss is charging AICPA members based on the same fee schedule used when the materials were managed by AICPA. Items still for sale by the AICPA will not be provided by the library.

AICPA materials include many pamphlets, newsletters, and magazines that require careful preservation. These materials are being added to the Ole Miss collection as quickly as possible and will appear in the catalog when available. Scholars wishing access to materials not yet cataloged should contact library staff well in advance of coming to campus to assure availabilty of materials.

In addition to pure accounting research, various aspects of social research can also be conducted using the library's holdings. For example, many items relate to the earliest African-American and female CPA's. Similarly, organizational histories can benefit from the resources of the library.

National Tax History Research Center

The National Tax History Research Center was established at Ole Miss in 1987, when the Academy of Accounting Historians selected the University as the site to house the collection that had been donated by E. Louis Raverta, a Massachusetts CPA. The center was dedicated in 1988 with a conference to honor the 75th anniversary of the 16th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Many items in the collection were donated by P.K. Seidman, who had used the materials in coauthoring the classic Seidman's Legislative History of the Income Tax. The Academy of Accounting Historians cosponsors the center along with the Patterson School of Accountancy. Scholars from throughout the world have studied at the center, and grants are available to researchers who wish to use the center. A listing of most of the items in the National Tax History Research Center may be accessed here.

National EDP Auditing Archival Center

The National EDP Auditing Archival Center was established in 1992. Many of the pioneers of EDP auditing donated their materials, including books, files, and other papers, to Ole Miss. The center now includes the Michael Cangemi Collection of more than 600 books on information technology auditing. The Cangemi collection is cataloged here.

McMickle Accounting History Library

In 1996, Dr. Peter McMickle of Memphis donated his collection of rare accounting books to the Academy of Accounting Historians, with the provision that the library be housed at Ole Miss. The library consists of more than 1,700 volumes, with more than 500 volumes dating from the 19th century and the oldest volume dating back to 1655. Items from the niche libraries do not circulate. Small travel grants to use the collection are available to members of the Academy of Accounting Historians. The pre-20th century volumes in the McMickle collection are cataloged here.

Accountancy Videotape and Media Collection

The Patterson School of Accountancy houses more than 400 videotapes on accounting topics. In addition, there are audiotapes and other forms of electronic media in the collection. More than 120 videos deal with the congressional investigation conducted by the Dingell Committee during the 1980s. The Videotape Center was established in 1980 when the school obtained from Michigan State University a series of 1960s videotapes on famous accountants.

Digital Accounting Collection

The University library has digitized the full text for noncurrent AICPA Exposure Drafts, articles in the Accounting Historians Journal, 1974-1992, and bibliographic citations for the AICPA pamphlet collection. The pamphlet collection contains thousands of pamphlets on accounting topics and can be searched by keyword, title, and author. Access the collection here.