University Archives, University of Maryland, College Park

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University Archives, University of Maryland, College Park

Mailing Address

University of Maryland, 2208 Hornbake Library, College Park, MD 20742

Contact: Jason G. Speck, Assistant University Archivist, or Anne Turkos, University Archivist

Phone: 301-405-9297 (Jason), or (301) 405-9060 (Anne)

E-mail: jgspeck@umd.edu (Jason), or aturkos@umd.edu (Anne)

Web: http://www.lib.umd.edu/univarchives

Web 2.0: Follow our Blog, join our Facebook page, or see our Flickr materials.

Finding Aids: http://www.lib.umd.edu/archivesum

Access to Collections

University Archives collections are available through the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library.

Hours of Service

Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional Wednesday evening and Sunday hours during semesters. See http://www.lib.umd.edu/mdrm/mdhours.html for more information.

Overview

The University Archives is the repository for a broad range of materials, including official office records, printed publications, photographs, film, video, audiotape, and memorabilia, documenting the history and present activities of the University of Maryland, and in particular, the College Park campus. The holdings of the University Archives are strongest in the post-1916 period.

Special Services

  • Cameras (at curator discretion)

  • Digital cameras (at curator discretion)

  • Microfilm/microfiche printouts

  • Photo print service

  • Photocopies

  • Photoduplication services

  • Scanning

Type of Materials

  • Architectural Documents

  • Artifacts

  • Audiovisual Materials

  • Books and Monographs

  • Digital Collections

  • Digital Exhibits

  • Exhibitions

  • Institutional Records

  • Maps

  • Microforms

  • Musical Scores

  • Newspapers

  • Oral Histories

  • Personal Papers

  • Photographs

  • Primary Resources

  • Printed Ephemera

  • Prints and Drawings

  • Serials

  • University Publications

  • Vertical File Material

Detailed Description of Collections

  • Architectural Documents: Several University of Maryland Archives' collections contain blueprints and drawings of older buildings on campus, including the Records of the Department of Physical Plant and the Records of the President's Office.  Older floor of campus buildings, called small-scale facilities drawings, are included in the University Publications collection.  Current architectural documents are held elsewhere on campus, in the archives maintained by the Department of Capital Projects, formerly known as the Department of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.  For a more complete description of the architectural documents in the UM Archives click here.

  • Artifacts: The Archives holds approximately 1,000 UM-related objects, such as ceremonial footballs, plaques, trophies, student and sports uniforms, and portraits of past university leaders.  A particular highlight of the collection is the mounted diamondback terrapin that was the model for the university mascot, "Testudo."  The collection spans more than a century of the history of the UM campus.

  • Audiovisual Materials: The Archives is a rich source of audiovisual materials including about 7,000-10,000 pieces of film and videotape.  These materials mainly document the university's athletic history and important events, such as commencements and presentations by invited speakers on campus.  They date primarily from the 1950s to the present.  Audio recordings mainly consist of band or choral performances.

  • Books and Monographs: The University Publications collection contains numerous books and monographs produced by departments and units of the university.  Many of the titles have been individually described in the UM Libraries' catalog.

  • Digital Collections: University Archives' resources are represented in several digital collections.  Images and film from the Archives are being added to University AlbUM, our online repository.  Several frequently requested series of publications, including course catalogs, yearbooks, commencement programs, and student handbooks, are available via the Internet Archive; a full list of these publications and links to the digital versions can be accessed via our website.  An additional web-based resource, "University of Maryland A to Z: M.A.C. to Millennium," is a major source of historical information about the university and holds answers to frequently asked questions about the campus.

  • Digital Exhibits: The Archives has mounted several digital exhibits on its own website, as well as on Flickr.  Exhibits on our site include one on Maryland agriculture, and one on a fire that nearly destroyed the campus in 1912.  Our Flickr exhibits include Musical Milestone: Celebrating the Centennial of the University of Maryland Bands, various 50th class reunion exhibits, and the Archives' "What in the World???" photo-caption contest from fall 2009.

  • Exhibitions: The Archives has an active exhibitions program, showcasing exhibits both on- and off-site.  Programs have focused on various aspects of campus history, including student life, athletics, famous campus citizens, and the arts.  Check our website for any information about current exhibitions, and the Maryland Room Gallery site about exhibits being displayed in our building's dedicated exhibit space.

  • Institutional Records: The Archives holds records from a variety of university groups: administrative units, academic departments, research centers, and student organizations.  Many of these records are available for research; a partial listing of what is available is located in the University Archives' portion of ArchivesUM.

  • Maps: The main set of maps of the Maryland campus maintained by the Archives are housed in our University Publications collection, call number UPUB M3.  Other maps are scattered through various groupings of institutional records, in particular those from the President's Office (1916-1988), and their presence is noted in the descriptions available on ArchivesUM.

  • Microforms: The Archives houses a small number of microforms, including the student newspaper the Diamondback, which started in 1910 (when it was originally called The Triangle).  Other microforms include Computer Science technical reports, Cooperative Extension Service annual reports, and general ledgers from the UM Comptroller's Office.

  • Musical Scores: Our holdings are limited to songbooks containing various school songs which have been sung or played by the student body over the years.  A songbook and CD celebrating the centennial of the UM Band program was added in 2009.

  • Newspapers: Our University Publications collection contains a number of specialty newspapers produced by student groups on campus in addition to the main student paper the Diamondback (see Microforms, above).  These papers, including the Black Explosion, Eclipse, Mitzpeh, La Voz Latina, and the Public Asian often target a specific section of the student body.

  • Oral Histories: Please see the university Archives' section of the oral history resource guide in ArchivesUM.

  • Personal Papers: A number of our alumni have assembled personal collections relating to their student days at the university, their accomplishments following graduation, or a portion of UM history.  These collections are listed by the individual's name in the University Archives' section of ArchivesUM.

  • Photographs: The UM Archives holds approximately 500,000 images depicting all aspects of campus life.  Included are shots of campus buildings and landscapes, athletics, cultural events, student life, and individual and group portraits.  Images that have been digitized appear in University AlbUM.

  • Printed Ephemera: The University Archives' collections contain many examples of printed ephemera, including ticket stubs from athletic events, bumper stickers, decals, book jackets, theater playbills, and posters.

  • Prints and Drawings: The Archives holds numerous architectural renderings of campus buildings, oil paintings of university officials or individuals for whom campus buildings are named, and other pieces of artwork capturing daily life on campus.

  • Serials: The University Publications collection contains hundreds of serial titles, including annual reports, technical reports series, student publications, athletic team media guides, game day programs, and alumni magazines.

  • University Publications: The Archives maintains an extensive collection of the university's publications, a wide variety of print materials that are produced by and about administrative units, academic departments, student groups, and athletics teams on campus.  A listing of all of the units for which the Archives has material is located in ArchivesUM; individually catalogued items from the collection can be found by utilizing the Advanced Search feature in the UM Catalogs and choosing "university publications" from the named collection drop-down list.  Much of the collection is uncatalogued--please contact us if you cannot find what you seek.

  • Vertical File Material: The Archives maintains an extensive vertical file consisting primarily of newspaper clippings from local papers outside the university from the 1930s to the 1970s documenting a broad slice of campus life.