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Library Special CollectionsWhat We Collect

University Archives: the History of UCLA

The UCLA University Archives maintains a selection of the official records of the university, materials that document student and campus life, including athletics, selected oral histories of UCLA, and other archival and published materials affiliated with UCLA (1919-) and with its predecessor, the Los Angeles State Normal School (1881-1919).

Collecting Priorities, Criteria, and Rationale

  1. The UCLA University Archives maintains a selection of the official records of the university, materials that document student and campus life, including athletics, selected oral histories of UCLA, and other archival and published materials affiliated with UCLA (1919-) and with its predecessor, the Los Angeles State Normal School (1881-1919). [BFB-RMP-1: -ownership and responsibilities.]
    • Intercollegiate athletics –departmental records, films, photographs, and publications.
    • University photographs that document the people, places, and events of the campus. To be selected they must include sufficient identification and not be overly duplicative.
    • University publications produced by academic and other units on campus that are about those units and their activities, and that do not duplicate current holdings.
  2. Student and campus life, in any format, particularly student organization records, which a particular focus on those student groups that support under-represented voices within the archives –including but not limited to those groups that identify on the basis of race, religion, ethnic diversity, and gender diversity. Also includes student publications and academic journals.
    • Collection development in this area is conducted in close collaboration with the Librarians/Archivists for Los Angeles Communities and Cultures and will not duplicate collections held in the UCLA Ethnic Studies Centers Libraries.

Out of Scope

  • Faculty papers: these are considered, where appropriate, by subject area curators, based on their current collection priorities.
    • Please review those collecting priorities under “What We Collect” for more information
  • Alumni group records: unless the groups represent diverse communities and underrepresented voices within the archives.
  • Individual alumni papers –the university archives does not collect the papers of individual alumni, except we do consider selected papers from their time as a student. Papers that focus on their life and career after UCLA would be evaluated under the collecting priorities of the other subject curators.
  • Uncommon or especially complex born-digital file formats or born-digital and audiovisual carriers that currently cannot be accessed or preserved via our current technology and equipment.
  • Photographs for which there is no description of any kind and the subject matter is not readily identifiable.
  • UCLA Yearbooks prior to 2000 –we do not collect duplicates.
  • Academic journals produced by departments or other units.
  • University Archives is extremely selective about any memorabilia that is collected. It is normally very difficult to store and has little to no research value. Its primary value is for display and we do not engage in permanent display.

More About the Collection

For more information about the collections and materials available online see: UCLA University History Research Guide.