Guide to the University Archives : Introduction
The University Archive of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is part of the Special Collections Department of the University Libraries. The purpose of the archive is to collect, preserve, and provide access to materials documenting the history and development of the University and its various components. The papers of past University presidents and other administrators constitute the core of the collection, but the University Archive collects all types of materials which document the work, development, and accomplishments of each component of the University, its administrators, faculty and alumni. The University Archive works in cooperation with the Records Management Program of the University, but also collects records of historical value which may not fit the parameters of that program, such as the personal papers of faculty and alumni.
Types of materials contained in the University Archive include correspondence, diaries, historical photographs, minutes, notes, oral histories (tapes and transcripts), press releases, publications of faculty, reports, research documentation, scrapbooks, theses and dissertations, and University publications. The University Archive also maintains vertical files of containing historical and current information on the University and biographical information on University personnel.
This guide describes the historical records within the University Archive. Entries in the guide are arranged by record group, with a record group defined as the originating source. For example, record group one contains records of the Board of Visitors. Subgroups exist within each record group, i.e. subgroup two of record group one is the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors. This entry arrangement is reflective of the actual physical arrangement of the records in the University Archives. Collections of manuscript material from faculty and alumni are assigned manuscript numbers (for example, Ms 95-001). Call numbers are given for all major publications that have been cataloged (for example, Board of Visitors Manual [LD5655 A4 1944]).
Each entry contains an administrative history of the originating source and a description of the materials within the collection. An attempt has been made to describe, or at least list, not only the official archival records but also other items which provide historical information (i.e. newspaper clippings, publications, ephemeral printed material, and photographs). The size of each collection is given in cubic feet ("cu. ft."), with 0.1 cu. ft. being the smallest unit used. Inclusive dates are recorded for each collection.
|
|
|
T. Marshall Hahn (left) and John McLaren McBryde, two of the Tech's presidents. Their papers can be found in RG02, the Office of the President. |
|
