University Archives
About us
We are the official repository for records of Stanford University and serve as its institutional memory. The Archives collect, preserve, administer, and promote access to materials in any format that documents the history of Stanford, including its founders, administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni/ae. Our holdings include more than thirty thousand linear feet of material and 20+ terabytes (TB) of electronic records within 2,200+ collections.
We partner with university community members to collect, describe, administer, preserve, and make accessible materials of enduring historic value pertaining to the history of Stanford University. The University Archives are proactive in documenting and serving the needs of an increasingly interdisciplinary and diverse university. The Archives are responsible for collecting, processing, and promoting materials inclusive of this diversity, and we are committed to developing associated programming to extend the reach and impact of our work at Stanford and beyond. We are especially committed to supporting Stanford’s pedagogical and service mission by providing the Stanford community with opportunities to engage with Stanford’s past and by determining how the university’s past, present, and future are studied, interpreted, and shared.
Important information about access to collections
We are undergoing a major collection move through 2026. Access to materials may be limited. Most of the rare books collections and portions of the manuscript and archives collections will be difficult to consult from August 2023 to August 2024. If you are planning a research visit or class session, please contact Special Collections to determine availability and options.
Students and scholars from outside of Stanford should contact the staff with inquiries before they make their plans. Let us know what you are interested in.
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Meet the staff
