Troy University Archives and Special Collections
About Us
Mission Statement
The mission of the Troy University Archives and Special Collections (TUASC) is to identify, collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to information and materials documenting and supporting the history and research interests of Troy University, its constituents, and its supporting community.
Administrative Authority
TUASC is a component of Troy University Libraries and is under the administrative authority of the Dean of Libraries, Dr. Chris Shaffer. TUASC is managed by the Troy University Archivist, who serves to promote the collection, preservation, and accessibility of records that retain significant and enduring administrative, educational, evidentiary, historical, legal, and/or research value.
Organizational Structure
TUASC is composed of the University Archives (TUA) and the University Special Collections (TUSC).
The University Archives
TUA is a repository of organized collections supporting the TUASC Mission and requiring special security and/or preservation measures due to fragility, value, rarity, or other unique properties of the materials, or the information stored on or within such materials.
TUA currently maintains 33 individual archival collections, with the most significant being Record Group 1, Troy University Records. These collections are represented in tangible and digital form, with many digital holdings published via the Troy University Digital Archives website.
The University Special Collections Library
TUSC is a repository of published materials that require special security and/or preservation measures due to the value, rarity, or unique properties of the materials, or the information stored on or within such materials.
These unique holdings are discoverable through the library's online catalog and may be checked out for in-house review. Interlibrary loans will be considered for some materials with lending agreements designating restricted in-house use by the borrowing entity. In some instances, a facsimile or digital copy will be utilized to preserve the integrity and longevity of rare or fragile materials.
Catalogs & Finding Aids
Special Collections
Special collection materials are cataloged using the Library of Congress Classification System. To locate publications, utilize the online catalog of the Troy University Library website. Please note that many school publications remain uncataloged. An index for these materials is available from the University Archivist.
Archives
Individual archival collections are organized into specific record groups. Record groups are subsequently organized into smaller groupings known as a series or sub-series. This hierarchical structure increases in granularity (or specificity) from a top-level general survey to a bottom-level detailed description. Documents called "Finding Aids" provide a descriptive summary of this organizational structure allowing researchers to quickly discover and access information relevant to their needs. TUASC is currently processing all archival collections. Finding aids will be published when this process is complete.
If you are unable to locate material in TUASC, please contact the University Archivist for assistance. It is our pleasure to assist you.
Recommended Procedure for Research at the University Archives
(1) Review online collection descriptions to locate materials of interest
(2) Review the TUASC Rules and Procedures
(3) Email the the University Archivist in advance of your visit to confirm a date and time for your research.
(4) Submit a completed TUASC Registration Form to assist staff in meeting your research needs.
Walk-in requests will be serviced to the best of our ability, but advanced notice is preferred. Unprocessed collections require substantial time for retrieval, review, and preparation.
Accessing Digital Materials
Many TUASC digital collections, such as the Palladium yearbook, school bulletins, back issues of newspapers, and audio/visual holdings are available via the Troy University Digital Archives Website. Additional material is being ingested regularly, so please visit often. For special requests, please contact the University Archivist.
Copyright law and privacy restrictions prevent the digitization and distribution of some archival materials.
Useful Links
TUASC Digital Archives
TUASC Collection Policy
TUASC Rules and Procedures
TUASC Registration Form
TUASC Donor Gift Agreement
TUASC Records Transmittal Form
TUASC LibGuide
TUASC Records Destruction Guidelines
Location
The University Archives and Special Collections is located at 111 International Blvd., Wallace Hall, Troy, Alabama, 36082.