Located on the lower level of the Ronald Williams Library in Room LIB 006W, the University Archives preserves historical records of NEIU and assists the NEIU community with research projects.
Archived materials are primary sources of particular interest to students exploring the history of the University, the evolution of the academic programs, administrative initiatives, and the development and growth of the physical facilities.
The University Archives adheres to the Society of American Archivist's Guidelines for College and University Archives (1999) and the SAA Core Values Statement of Code and Ethics (2011).
Questions: Contact University Archives at universityarchives@neiu.edu or (773) 442-4402.
Hours
- 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
To ensure the best service, please make an appointment by calling (773) 442-4402.
Digital Collections
- Guide to Collections
- University Archives on Digital Commons
- Luis V. Gutiérrez Congressional Archives
- Campus History - selected text and images
- History of the Chicago Parental School
- Northeastern Illinois University Yearbooks
- Japanese American Redress Collection
- Transcripts - Commission on the Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC)
- Inner City Issues
- Que Ondee Sola
- Student Newspapers
Materials
Examples of archived documents are:
- historical photographs;
- presidential papers;
- records from the various departments such as Academic Affairs and Student Affairs;
- memoranda, council minutes, proceedings, Faculty Senate minutes;
- records of the Board of Trustees, University-sponsored programs and activities;
- University budgets;
- publications of student organizations, yearbooks, and the school newspaper;
- blueprints of campus buildings and surrounding areas.
There is also a small collection of documents pertaining to the Japanese Internment Redress hearings and a related conference that was held at NEIU in 1981.
Please note that the University Archives does not accept anything of a confidential nature which would be inappropriate to make publicly available or publish on the internet, such as student and personnel records.
University Archives Collection Policy
Established as a department of the Library in 1980, the University Archives’ chief purpose is to acquire, preserve, and make accessible the official historical record of the University. University Archives collects the records of University departments and offices that are of enduring and historical value once they are past the period of active use. Examples of documents collected and accessioned by the University Archives include: presidential papers, memoranda, council minutes, proceedings, Faculty Senate minutes, records of the Board of Trustees, records of grants and proposals, documents related to University sponsored programs and activities, University budgets, publications of student organizations, and the school newspaper.
University Archives does not accept, and cannot house, any University records that are still in use, whether active or inactive. Offices and departments are advised to ensure that they have no current or frequent need for any records intended for transfer to University Archives. Records sent to University Archives that do not to fit the purpose of University Archives will not be retained. Examples of University documents that are not collected or stored by the University Archives include: student records, individual vitae of faculty, records of monetary gifts to the University, University bank statements, purchase orders or receipts, and personnel records. As a public collection open to anyone, confidential documents of any kind cannot be accepted.
The University Archivist, under the direction of the Associate Dean of Libraries, retains the responsibility and authority in determining which records will be housed in the Archives. The University Archivist establishes and maintains procedures to help ensure that only appropriate documents are transferred to the Archives to be processed and included in the collection. Those records and documents sent to the Archives that lack historical relevance will be returned or discarded.
The University Archives primarily collects documents in paper format. Digital formats may be accepted, but they will be evaluated by the University Archivist for their historical and enduring value.
The Library encourages the support of all University departments in developing this valuable collection to document our University’s history.
Procedures for Sending Records
All departments are welcome to submit materials for the University Archives. Please retain items for seven (7) years before transferring appropriate documents to the University Archives for evaluation of pertinence and importance, and permanent storage.
When an office or department has identified records it wants to archive, there are three (3) basic steps the office should take:
- Contact University Archives for an assessment. Assessments may be conducted on-site or by email.
- If the records are appropriate for transfer to the University Archives, complete the University Archives Intake Request Form. For digital files, please use the University Archives Digital Files Transfer Form.
- Put the completed University Archives Intake Request Form or University Archives Digital Files Transfer Form in the box(es) being transferred to University Archives.
Please follow the detailed procedures with the appropriate shipping form to send documents to the University Archives.
