University Archives

/University Archives


The University Archives is your stop for IU Bloomington history. 

As an archives, our primary mission is to collect, organize, preserve and make accessible records documenting Indiana University's origins and development and the activities and achievements of its officers, faculty, students, alumni and benefactors. With an estimated 18,000 cubic feet of records and papers in all formats, the University Archives is the largest and most comprehensive source of information on the history and culture of Indiana University. To ensure this history is captured, we provide records management assistance to IU Bloomington offices, schools, departments, as well as administrative offices on the IUB campus that have system-wide responsibilities.

We invite and encourage public, students, staff, faculty, and researchers to use our collections, whether the purpose is for teaching, research, or pure curiosity. 

Contact an Archivist

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Planning your visit

The University Archives reading room is located on the 4th floor of the Wells Library East Tower on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Wells Library has two accessible entrances. There are numerous bike parking options nearby and for those traveling by car we recommend parking at the East Parking Garage. For maps and additional details about both of these options, visit the Office of Parking Operations parking facilities webpage

Hours

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Featured

Collections

  • Modern Political Papers

    The Indiana University Modern Political Papers Collection consists of the congressional papers of senators and members of the House of Representatives from Indiana and of prominent Indiana state legislators serving from post-World War II to the present.

Open Exhibitions

Staff Directory

Photograph Curator
(812) 855-4495
Visiting Librarian
Project Archivist
(812) 855-7189
Director of University Archives
Librarian
(812) 855-2323
Assistant Archivist
(812) 855-5897
University Records Manager
812-855-6564
Outreach and Public Services Archivist
Associate Librarian
(812) 855-3322
Modern Political Papers Archivist
Assistant Librarian
812-855-1538

Recent Posts

Mission Statement | Collection Policy | FAQs about the University Archives | Prices for Reproduction Services

Mission Statement

The mission of the IU Libraries University Archives is to appraise, collect, organize, preserve and make available records of enduring value in support of the University's administration, teaching, research and service. To this end, the University Archives will:

  • Provide information services which support University administrators in performance of their duties
  • Support research and teaching by making available and encouraging the use of its collections by the IU community and the public
  • Promote knowledge and understanding of the history, programs, and goals of Indiana University
  • Work with campus partners to develop and implement a records management strategy for IU Bloomington offices, schools, and departments and for administrative offices on the IUB campus that have system-wide responsibilities

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Collection Policy

The University Archives collects records relating to the history and culture of Indiana University that have long-term, indefinite administrative, legal, fiscal or historical value. The majority of the records collected by the Archives are generated by University administrative units and academic departments and document the process of administering and managing the University. Another prominent but less voluminous source of records collected by the University Archives are the records generated by faculty, student and alumni organizations. The Archives also collects records that are about the University and members of the IU community, even if the creator of these documents is not associated with IU. Finally, the University Archives collects on a selective basis the personal papers of prominent IU faculty and alumni.

View complete University Archives Collection Policy

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Appointments are not required Monday - Friday but are highly encouraged, as most of our collections are stored offsite. Researchers must request their materials at least one (1) business day in advance of their visit to ensure they will be available for use. To make an appointment, email archives@iu.edu or call (812) 855-1127.

Saturday visits are by appointment only, Appointments must be made by 5:00 PM on the preceding Thursday of that week.

Visitors can park in one of the campus metered lots or garages; the garages closest to the Wells Library are the East Garage and Fee Lane Garage. If you plan to stay longer than two hours at a time, we recommend purchasing daily visitor permits, as they are more economical than hourly rates. These permits may be purchased at the IU Parking Operations Office, the IMU Biddle Hotel lobby, or at the Bloomington Visitor's Center (off campus).

No, like most archives and special collection repositories, materials in the collections are non-circulating and must be used in the University Archives reading room.

Only a small portion of the approximately 17,000 cubic feet of records and an estimated 2 million photographic images at the University Archives are digitized, although we are constantly digitizing additional material. Standalone digital collections include the University Archives Photograph Collection, the Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection, the IU Board of Trustees minutes (transcribed), the Bloomington Faculty Council Minutes (transcribed), and the Archives of Institutional Memory (AIM).

Other digitized material can be found by searching University Archives collection finding aids in Archives Online. These finding aids include general information about each collection as well as collection inventories, where links to digitized folders appear if available. For more information on accessing digitized material through finding aids, see How to Search and View Digital Items in Archives Online.

Yes, in most cases photocopies can be created.  However, researchers are not permitted to make their own photocopies, and due to the fragile nature of materials some items may not be able to be duplicated at all.  Requests for a large number of copies may exceed our staff resources, but we will make suggestions as to how to satisfy your request.  Photocopies are $.30 per page.  We accept cash, checks (payable to Indiana University Archives), credit cards, or you may charge the copies to an IU departmental account.  At this time, we are unable to CampusAccess cards. You may also use your own camera or phone to take pictures of manuscript materials as long as the flash is off.

Yes. Additional information on scanning charges is available via our page on Prices for Reproduction Services. For additional information please contact our Photographs Curator, Brad Cook (bcook@indiana.edu or 812-855-4495).

Yes, although there may be some limitations on use due to copyright status. Many University Archives recordings have been digitized and are available through Media Collections Online. If you do not find what you are looking for, contact archives@iu.edu with your request.

The Archives does not have these records.  Information on how to request a copy of your transcript can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website.

The Archives does not collect student theses and dissertations.  The Herman B Wells Library does collect dissertations, however, and you can search for the dissertation in the library catalog at www.iucat.iu.edu.  Try also contacting the department in which you completed the work, as they do sometimes keep copies of theses. Those affiliated with Indiana University Bloomington can also access the Libraries' subscription to ProQuest Theses and Dissertations Global.

We do, but for preservation purposes and broader access, we have had it microfilmed and do not allow patrons access to the paper copies in the Archives.  The microfilm is available in the Government Information, Microforms, and Statistical Services department on the 2nd floor of the Herman B Wells Library.  The reels are also available through interlibrary loan. Those affiliated with Indiana University Bloomington can also access the Libraries' subscription to Access Newspaper Archives, where the IDS is digitized through 1923.

Please cite: [item], [Name of Collection], [Collection number], Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Yes, we have several graduate students from the Department of Information and Library Science who are available to conduct research projects under your direction.  Once we locate a student who is interested in conducting the research, we will put them in contact with you and together you can establish fees and any other details of the research.  We will aid the students in finding resources, but we otherwise remove ourselves from the process.

    The Archives does not provide monetary appraisals, nor can we recommend specific dealers or appraisers to you.  We suggest you contact:

    Unfortunately, we are still not permitted to provide you with a monetary appraisal nor can we pay for the appraisal.  We will, however, send you a letter citing the historical significance of the materials when we send you the Deed of Gift.

    Unfortunately, it is not within our budget to purchase materials.  Please consider a donation.  In any case, please contact the Archives to discuss the materials.

    This can be done easily through the IU Foundation. Just search for the University Archives in the "Search all funds" box. (Thank you!)

    The Archivist can provide basic guidance to researchers in preserving their personal collections or family treasures.  However, there is a wealth of information available online: