Collection Development

The Archives Program of University Archives and Records Management (UARM) serves as the main repository for historical records of the University of Delaware, its predecessor institutions – including the Academy of Newark, Newark College, Delaware College, and the Women’s College of Delaware – as well as its Board of Trustees, its constituent colleges, departments, and programs, and its administrative offices and units.

The Archives Program builds its collections through acquisition of records from the Records Management Program, through internal departmental transfer, and through individual private donations. The primary criteria used to judge whether or not records are accepted for inclusion in the historical collections is their inherent relevance to the history of the University of Delaware. To that end, UARM acquires the following categories and types of records:

Photograph of Dr. William Homer, University President E. A. Trabant, Dr. Samuel Lenher (chair of the board of trustees), commencement speaker Dr. R. Buckminster Fuller, The Honorably Elbert N. Carvel (vice chair of the board and former governor of the state of Delaware) during a commencement ceremony. May 1980.

• Records of the University Board of Trustees,
• Records of the academic and administrative leadership of the University, including the President, the Provost, the Executive Vice President, other Vice Presidents and Vice Provosts, Deans, etc.,
• Records of the academic and administrative units and subdivisions of the University, including departments, offices, centers, institutes, committees, task forces, and partnerships with outside entities,
• Records of the Faculty Senate and records of faculty organizations and clubs,
• Records of student organizations and clubs,
• Records of individuals associated with the University, such as current or former faculty, employees, trustees, students, and alumni,
• Records of the Delaware Cooperative Extension Service,
• Records of the Women’s College of Delaware,
• Records of the Academy of Newark and its predecessor institutions,
• Records of all types and formats related to the history of the University of Delaware and its predecessor institutions, including:
  • Files, papers, and documents,
  • Reports and studies,
  • Meeting minutes, meeting minute books, and dockets,
  • Notebooks, diaries, and scrapbooks,
  • Photographs (including prints, negatives, slides, digital photography, etc.),
  • Deeds and associated real estate records,
  • Audio-visual materials (including all audio tape and film format types, VHS and DVD format media, etc.),
  • Digital records (including documents, spreadsheets, email, etc.),
  • Blueprints, architectural drawings, and maps,
  • Publications (including brochures, flyers, pamphlets, books, yearbooks, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, press releases, programs, directories, etc.),
  • Undergraduate and graduate theses and dissertations, and
  • Objects, memorabilia, ephemera, and artwork.

The Archives Program does not acquire or accept donations of the following categories or types of records:

• Records of the state government or legislature of Delaware,
• Records of the government of the City of Newark or any other location in which a University campus may be situated,
• Records pertaining to the history of the state of Delaware or to local history such as that of Newark or New Castle County, and
• Non-record items such as biological or taxidermied specimens or remains, mineralogical or chemical materials, ammunition or explosives, etc.

If you possess records or materials that you are interested in donating to UARM for inclusion within the Archives Program collections, please consult our Donations page on this website or contact a member of our staff directly.