Unlocking the Past: New Ways to Access Tulane University Archives

Tulane University Special Collections (TUSC) is delighted to announce the availability of preliminary finding aids for records held by Tulane's University Archives, now accessible online.

University Archives houses over 12,000 linear feet of material from the university’s administrative and academic offices. This extensive collection includes correspondence, operational files, administrative files, publications, and images created by university departments and administrative offices, as well as alumni-donated materials like scrapbooks. The recently published guides are essential for users navigating this vast trove of university-related history. 

Jillian Cuellar, director of Tulane University Special Collections, notes, "Tulane’s University Archives holds a rich collection of historical records that few have had easy access to in the past. Publishing these descriptions is a significant first step towards increasing the visibility and accessibility of Tulane’s history for today’s research community, as well as generations of knowledge seekers to come."

Established officially in 1962, Tulane's University Archives was created to collect, preserve, and administer records related to the founding, history, and administration of the university. Among its oldest documents are the original manuscript Prospectus, which established the ancestral Medical College of Louisiana in 1834, and minutes of the faculty of the University of Louisiana.

Facilitating the broadest possible access to the resources in its care is central to TUSC’s mission. TUSC archivists and librarians preserve, describe, and expertly manage the University’s archival records to promote their discovery and use. While some University records are under access restrictions, the majority are open to the Tulane community and the general public. Further descriptions will be added to each finding aid as each record group undergoes processing.

To learn more about accessing University Archives, please review the full access policy here. To learn more about Tulane University Special Collections, visit the TUSC website, email specialcollections@tulane.edu, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Published on 12/11/2023