History of the Archives
The need for a university archives was recognized here in the late 1940s. Committees studied the matter, and offices' records were being stored but no official action was taken until 1972. That year, Terry Sanford, Duke's president from 1969 to 1985, established the University Archives as the official repository for University records of enduring value. The Archives was housed in the Library building, but the Archivist reported to the Chancellor and the department was part of the university's general administration. In 1985, the department was placed under the direction of the President. In 2002, the Archives was made part of the University's library system. During 2006/07, the University Archives merged physically and administratively with Duke's Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library. The Duke University Medical Center Archives was established in 1977.
The purpose of the Archives is to identify and preserve administrative, legal, fiscal and historical records that have enduring value for the Duke community and to make the records available in accordance with policies approved by the University's Board of Trustees, administration and faculty. The Archives receives the minutes, reports, departmental subject files, personal and official correspondence, sound and video recordings, film, photographs, and other significant records generated in the University's day-to-day activities. The paper holdings consist of approximately 8500 linear feet of administrative, legal, fiscal and historical records dating from 1838 to the present. Electronic files are also being acquired.
In addition to official records, the Archives preserves campus publications and audiovisual materials by and about Duke, papers of faculty members, and records of student organizations and employee groups. We develop collections on significant subjects, such as student activism or town-gown relations, and receive departmental senior honors theses.
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