The University Archives is looking for significant records of historical value that chronicle the university’s history and support the Archives’ mission. This may include items such as official publications, personal papers, reports, meeting minutes, photographs, flyers, maps, and any other item that should be permanently retained. Particularly desirable items include:
The University Archives does not collect routine office records and records that do not have enduring historical value. Originals are strongly preferred; although in selected cases, copies can be accepted.
We are interested in materials that fit within the scope of our collection development policy, and especially materials that document the history of Oakland County and southeast Michigan from the 19th century to the present, with a special focus on the political, economic, socio-cultural and multicultural aspects of the region’s suburban history. This includes but is not limited to memos and correspondence, meeting minutes, photos, scrapbooks, newspapers and newsletters.
If you're not sure if your materials could be of interest to our archives, contact us.
Please note that ASC accepts donated materials in both print and digital formats. Potential donors should be aware that we are only able to accept donations on-site, and we are unable to travel to pick up / collect donations for any reason.
After receiving a signed deed of gift, archives staff will process the donated materials. All items donated to Archives and Special Collections are placed in a collection named after the donor, creator, or organization. Staff will store the materials in archival quality folders and boxes in the Archives’ secure, climate-controlled facility.
A finding aid will be created, with an inventory of the contents of the collection, a brief overview of the collection, and information about the donor. The finding aid will be added to our website to help researchers find information that may be located in your materials.
The new collection will be made available to researchers in the Archives and Special Collections reading room, unless specific provisions are made in the deed of gift to temporarily restrict access to part or all of the materials. Items from the collection may also be used for exhibits in the library or online, as well as for classes that come into the archives with their instructors.
Please note that once the deed of gift has been signed, ownership of the materials within the donated collection become the property of Archives and Special Collections. Our division reserves the right to process, preserve, display, and (potentially) deaccession collections and collection items in accordance with university policy and professional standards.
Donations of any suggested materials should be directly addressed to our office. Please contact us at (248) 370-2451, archives@oakland.edu, or fill out our online request form with all of the details of the offered donation(s), and our personnel with respond to you as soon as possible. We reserve the right to accept or respectfully deny any suggested donations; potential donors may retain any original items as needed (although we prefer originals), with the archives accepting a copy.
All donors will be asked to sign a deed of gift transferring legal custody of the records to Oakland University / Archives and Special Collections.
We do not accept or process requests related to the library's circulating collections. Requests related to library collections (both print and digital) should be addressed to Helen Levenson, Associate Professor, Collection Development Librarian.
Fill out a University Archives Transmittal/ Inventory Form. Send the form and a brief inventory along with the materials to the Archives, Attention: Archives.
All preservation, organization, inventory and digitizitation tasks for archival materials are both costly and time-consuming. ASC is grateful for any donations gifted towards off-setting the costs of maintaining our holdings.
If you would like information about making a tax-deductible donation, please review the University Libraries' donation information.
