Mission Statement

The Archives & Special Collections department acts as the official repository for Valparaiso University by collecting, organizing, preserving, and providing access to historical university records and supports the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources' mission by providing access to and discovery of special collections to students, faculty, staff, scholars, patrons from other institutions, and the community in general.

Collection Policy

Archives Scope
  • Documents concerning the time period 1859-1925, including documentation relative to the Valparaiso Male and Female College, Northern Indiana Normal School, and Valparaiso College.
  • Documents concerning the Board of Directors, including minutes and other materials relating to its subcommittees.
  • Institutional surveys, reports, and studies that include Valparaiso University.
  • Presidential personal papers, minutes and records of important occasions, presidentially appointed committees and task forces, speeches, and other documentation representing the thought and word of any Valparaiso University President.
  • Minutes, reports, and records of the Administrative Council, University Senate, University Council, Faculty Senate, office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Provost.
  • Documentation regarding accounting procedures and reports from Business Affairs (VP of Finance and CFO).
  • Minutes and reports of faculty meetings, faculty handbooks, personal papers, and biographical files of faculty, alumni, or staff professional papers.
  • Records and publications of the alumni, marketing, public relations and fundraising operations of the University.
  • Documentation that encompasses University properties, residential life, intercollegiate athletics, student government, Greek life, organizations recognized by the Student Senate, campus traditions, counseling, the career center, union activities, the Union Board, admission, and financial aid.
  • Material that encompasses lecture series, seminars, institutes, or conferences occurring on campus.
  • Material from affiliated organizations and associations of Valparaiso University.
  • Student publications, including yearbooks and newspapers.
  • Publications with the Valparaiso University imprint.
  • Artifacts relating to the history of the University, as determined by the University Archivist or Special Collections Librarian.
Special Collections Scope
  • Material that encompasses Lutheriana, reformation studies, authoritative texts and liturgical sources associated with Lutheran history.
  • A collection of historically significant editions of the Bible.
  • A collection of historically significant hymnals.
  • Unique and/or historically noteworthy collections significant because of the person's relationship to the University, such as faculty (Weinhorst Collection), staff (Bowden Collection), alumni (Makeever Collection), or administration (O.P Kretzmann papers).
  • Collections deemed important by the University Archivist, Special Collections Librarian, or University President.
Valparaiso University Archives & Special Collections reserves the right to review for consideration/or respectfully decline:
  • Materials of any condition or size that require costly preservation, such as newsprint, fabric, ceramic, or glass.
  • Diplomas, transcripts, awards, or plaques.