What We Collect
The Drexel University Archives' holdings primarily consist of institutional documents
(papers, files and publications) created by members of the Drexel community and maintained
by the Archives as a record of the University's activities. Our archival collection includes:
papers, documents, electronic files, photographs, videos, cassettes, financial records,
letters, and personal materials relating to Drexel University. Materials in the Archives are housed in secure, temperature-controlled environments in the lower
level of W. W. Hagerty Library, as well as our off-site facility.
Acquisition
Policy
In order to carry out its mission to acquire materials of enduring value for preservation
and access, the Archives collects the following types of records:
- Non-current records of administration, academic departments and student activities: records which are no longer of immediate routine use and that document the everyday
functions of the University.
- University publications officially issued by an administrative office, including newspapers, newsletters, yearbooks,
directories, pamphlets, advertisements, posters and notices.
- Blueprints and information about Drexel's campus and buildings
- Clippings and photographs related to the University: news accounts, including
photography, that record important events at Drexel or are created by Drexel's Office of University Communications
- Faculty publications: books, articles and other published material by faculty who
are employed at the time of the publication.
- Student theses and dissertations
- Photographs, scrapbooks and memorabilia that document the Drexel student
experience
- Personal papers of Drexel University faculty, students, administrators, and alumni, as well as records and other materials created or collected by non-Drexel University individuals or organizations, that illuminate aspects of Drexel University history not otherwise well documented in the Archives’ collections.
The Archives acquires material primarily through donation from departments of the
University and from alumni, students and interested members of the community.
Record Management Policy
The University currently has a record retention policy, mandating the minimum length of
time official records must be kept. See Drexel's Record Management Policy and Record Retention Schedules.
Collected Formats
Generally, the Archives will accept any formats if material falls under
guidelines above. However, the Archives reserves the right to reject materials whose
format or physical condition inhibits research access.
For Student Organizations
You can save the history of your organization by sending the following to the
Archives:
- Constitutions, charters, by-laws, minutes and reports of meetings and
committees
- Membership lists
- Organizational histories
- Publications, such as newsletters
- Publicity and promotional materials, such as brochures or event programs
- Officers' files: correspondence and memorandum (incoming and outgoing) and subject
files concerning projects, activities and functions
- Scrapbooks and photographs
- Audio-visual materials including films, DVDs, VHS video tapes, CDs, tapes or other
audio recordings
Please do not send:
- Duplicate and blank forms
- Detailed financial records, canceled checks, bank statements and receipts
- Plaques and trophies
Send digital or analog (print) materials - the Archives collects both!
Are you part of a student organization? Print out this handout for Guidelines on How to Save Your History.
For Faculty
The Archives collects faculty papers that demonstrate one or more of the following:
- Service to Drexel University and contribution to its growth and development
- Contribution to community, state, and national affairs
- Recognized excellence in teaching
- Influence on the world outside of the University and academia
For faculty papers that meet one of more of these criteria we are interested in the
following types of materials.
- Correspondence, paper or email
- Diaries and journals
- Biographical material such as resumes, curriculum vitae, bibliographies,
biographical sketches, personal memories and newspaper clippings
- Grant proposals and reports
- Speeches and lectures
- Lecture notes and selected course syllabi
- Records of committee work such as agendas, meeting minutes, reports and
correspondence
- Final reports of research (unpublished)
- Off-prints and other scholarly work, including speeches, presentations, technical
reports and unpublished articles
- Photographs and audio-visual materials (unique, non-commercial recordings and raw
tape/files)
We do not collect:
- Student records such as papers, assignments and grades
- Financial records
- Personnel records
- Awards and plaques
- Time sheets
- Travel vouchers and receipts
- Medical records
- Junk mail
- Most three-dimensional objects, such as lab equipment or models
For Administrative staff
If you are interested in transferring administrative records from a business unit,
school/college, or academic department to the Archives, the following list
provides a guide to the types of materials we collect. It is, however, not
comprehensive, and staff should contact us with any questions about records they think
may have historical value but that are not listed here.
- Departmental and committee agendas, meeting minutes and proceedings
- Annual reports
- Strategic plans
- Lists of staff, students and/or faculty
- Newsletters
- Event programs, brochures, flyers, posters, press releases and other publications
and public relations materials
- Photographs, scrapbooks, videos and audio recordings
- Syllabi and other curriculum materials
- Grant proposals
- Accreditation records (Final Reports and Determinations)
- Professional correspondence, including email
- Building and space plans and blueprints
Tales of the Dragon
Share your memories by recording an oral history interview. Contact the Archives at archives@drexel.edu to learn more about our oral history program.
Archives of Greek Life
Fraternity and sorority history is one of the Archives' key collecting areas.
Photographs, documents and objects from more than 15 chapters make up the Archives of
Greek Life at Drexel, which resulted from a partnership between the Libraries, the
Drexel Inter-Fraternity Alumni Association (DIFAA) and the Drexel University Alumni
Association. To save the history of your chapter by donating materials to the Archives,
please contact us at archives@drexel.edu.
Web Archiving
The Archives will attempt to capture records posted on departmental website across the University. If you
are not sure that we are doing regular captures of all of your web records, please send an email to records@drexel.edu to confirm or
make arrangements to have your content added to our regular captures.