The library's first Chinese-language acquisition was a set of the Ku-chin t'u-shu chi-cheng (Complete Collection of Graphs and Writings of Ancient and Modern Times), a gift of the Empress Dowager of the Ching dynasty.
而館內一套古今圖書集成還是清朝的慈禧太后所贈，這也是哥大的第一部中文藏書。