Donate & Transfer Records to the University Archives

The University Archives welcomes materials that contribute to documenting faculty and professional staff careers at Drexel, including but not limited to:  

• Correspondence 
• Diaries, journals, notebooks, and appointment calendars 
• Biographical material such as resumes, curricula vitae, bibliographies, and biographical sketches 
• Research designs, notes, and reports 
• Lecture notes, course syllabi, and course outlines 
• Records of departmental and committee work such as agendas, meeting minutes, reports, and correspondence 
• Published articles and monographs by the donor, as well as drafts and manuscripts of speeches, presentations, articles, and reviews 
• Photographs and audio-visual materials (unique, non-commercial recordings and raw tape/files) 

We also collect inactive research data that faculty and graduate students may generate as part of their activities at Drexel. Please note that our capacity to preserve and provide access to research data is dependent on technological restrictions like file format, proprietary versus open data and software, file size, and privacy and other legal concerns.

At this time, we do not accept the following:  

• Student records (course rosters, student papers, grades etc.) 
• Financial records, time sheets, travel vouchers or receipts 
• Medical records 
• Personnel records 
• Junk mail 
• Most 3D objects (plaques, lab equipment, models etc.)

If you have records you would like to transfer or donate, please check with us first by emailing archives@drexel.edu so we can discuss the materials and ensure they are a good fit for the University Archives.

The University Archives is the official repository for all inactive Drexel University records of enduring historical value, including both paper-based records and records created, transmitted, or stored electronically. Please note that records of the College of Medicine are maintained by the College of Medicine Archives, also known as the Legacy Center.  

Records transferred to the Archives will be organized according to archival standards, stored in a secure environment, and an inventory of their contents will be prepared. University staff and other users will be able to consult the records during the Archives’ regular hours by appointment, subject to possible restrictions for legal or policy reasons.

Examples of university records we collect include:   

• Departmental and committee agendas, meeting minutes, and proceedings
• Professional correspondence, including email 
• Annual reports 
• Strategic plans 
• Lists of staff, students, and/or faculty 
• Newsletters, magazines, and other publications 
• Event programs, brochures, flyers, posters, press releases, and other public relations materials 
• Photographs, scrapbooks, video and audio recordings 
• Syllabi and other curriculum materials 
• Grant proposals 
• Accreditation records (final reports and determinations) 
• Building and space plans and blueprints 

University departments and offices are encouraged to contact the University Archives at archives@drexel.edu with questions or to schedule a consultation to discuss inactive records that may be candidates for transfer to the Archives.  

Drexel’s student organizations can preserve their history by transferring materials to the University Archives. These materials shed light on student life and on the academic experience at Drexel. 

Typical materials accepted by the University Archives include:  

• Constitutions, charters, and by-laws 
• Organizational histories 
• Minutes and reports of meetings and committees 
• Correspondence and memoranda (incoming and outgoing) and subject files concerning projects, activities, and functions 
• Aggregate financial records such as treasurer’s reports 
• Membership lists 
• Publications such as newsletters 
• Promotional materials such as fliers, posters, brochures, and event programs 
• Scrapbooks and photographs 
• Audiovisual recordings of the organization’s activities and events 

Please do not submit duplicate or blank forms; detailed financial records, canceled checks, bank statements, or receipts; or most three-dimensional objects such as plaques or trophies. 

If you have records you would like to transfer or donate, please check with us first by emailing archives@drexel.edu so we can discuss the materials and ensure they are a good fit for the University Archives.

The University Archives also collects materials from Drexel’s individual students and alumni/ae. These materials shed light on student life, academic experiences at Drexel, and how time at Drexel shaped the lives and careers of alumnae/i after college.  

Typical materials accepted by the University Archives include:  

• Materials that describe or document your personal experience at Drexel, such as scrapbooks, diaries, photographs, audiovisuals, and correspondence with faculty, administrators, fellow students, and family 
• Course materials such as lab notebooks, term papers, and course projects (if the creator is yourself or is deceased) 
• Memorabilia such as event flyers, sports programs, and campus publications 
• Materials that document life and work after Drexel, especially if related to the Drexel experience 

Please note that, in most cases, the Archives does not accept Lexerd yearbooks, as we already have multiple copies of most—but not all—issues. 

If you have records you would like to transfer or donate, please check with us first by emailing archives@drexel.edu so we can discuss the materials and ensure they are a good fit for the University Archives.