University Archives
The Archives contains records of our university's history--its people and their activities since 1850.
This includes memorabilia (scrapbooks, dance booklets, photographs, the uniform to the right), as well as publications by students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
These items range from the personal to the public; they include first-hand accounts of a nurse in World War I, and artifacts of the first buildings on campus. These are all materials that are relevant to the University's history and are a part of our shared heritage.
Digitized records
Selections from IWU's historical records are available in digital form. Links and descriptions are available on the IWU History Research Guide. Examples of available sources include:
Wesleyana Yearbooks (all known to exist are digitized)
The Argus and other student and alumni publications (all known to exist are digitized)
Historical Photographs (most have not been digitized; contact the archives for help finding more)
Audiovisual media (most analog media is digitized; contact the archives for help finding more)
We also have a variety of materials in Digital Commons. These include publications (John Wesley Powell Research Conference materials, Honors Projects, meeting minutes and other permanent records of IWU), some of which do not exist physically in the Archives. Student works in Digital Commons are recommended by faculty or through peer reviewed editorial processes.
The Vault
The Archives is organized by the categories listed below. We are beginning to enter our collection records into one searchable interface . A complete list is available in the full Finding Aid (caution: large pdf).
1. Board of Trustees
2. Office of the President
3. Other University Administrators (Deans, Provosts)
4. Administrative Offices and Auxiliary Services
5. University Publications and Reports
6. Special Events
7. Schools/Colleges
8. Departments and Programs
Publications produced under the direction
of faculty (link leads to a page showing
only the titles cataloged to date; see
Finding Aid for complete list)
9. Athletics
10. Faculty and Staff Governance
11. Student Organizations
11-2 Student Publications
(link leads to a page showing
individual titles and date ranges)
12. Alumni Organizations
13. Student and Alumni Biographical Files and Publications
14. Faculty and Staff Biographical Files and Publications (most still listed on Finding Aid)
15. Associated Colleges (Hedding, Chaddock Colleges)
16. IWU History
17. Friends and Benefactors
18. Special Formats (CDs, DVDs, VHS, etc.; format migration underway)
19. Awards and Honors
20. Buildings and Grounds