MPD's special collections include materials which document individuals, productions, organizations, and/or genres significant to performing arts in California, with particular emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area.

LEGACY ORAL HISTORIES record and preserve the artistic legacies of San Francisco Bay Area performing arts community members who are at-risk. Oral histories are produced by the Legacy Oral History Program.

BIOGRAPHICAL FILES Article, review, program, and photograph files on individual actors, dancers, musicians, composers, conductors, choreographers, singers and other performing artists who have performed in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the present.

PERSONAL PAPERS of performers, patrons, and creators including Lew Christensen and Gisella Caccialanza, Phil Elwood, Alexander Fried, Anna Halprin, Calvin Simmons, Michael Smuin, Gladys Swarthout, and others.

DANCE COLLECTIONS: Files contain programs, photographs, souvenir books, articles, reviews, press releases, press k its, flyers and/or brochures on more than 2,400 local, national and international ballet, folk, jazz, ethnic, tap and modern dance companies, as well as information on dance schools, festivals, specific ballets, dance styles and dances. Major collections include American Ballet Theatre and Ballet Russes.
           
THEATER FILM ARCHIVES: Videos of theater performances in the Bay Area from the mid-80’s to the present including ACT, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, San Jose Repertory, American Musical Theater of San Jose, 42nd Street Moon, California Shakespeare Theater, and others.

PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTIONS: Kurt Herbert Adler, Lillian Bauer, Donald Coney, Thomas Curran, Edgar Foster Daniels, Harry Jew, Katherine Kahrs, Chester Kessler, Henri McDowell, Bob McLeod, Robert Millard, John Morrissey, Alexander Murray, Ida Nevis, Ira Nowinski, Ron Scherl, Bernard Taper, Enid Thompson, Tom Zimberoff, Chris Wahlberg, Max Waldman, Wylie Wong, and others.