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University Archive

Mission Statement
The University Archives serves as the institutional memory for Texas Tech University by collecting, preserving and making accessible to researchers such materials as administrative and faculty records, publications, photographs, video and audio materials.  These materials document the legal, historical, fiscal, administrative and intellectual aspects of the university, as well as the cultural and social aspects of student life.

Acquisition Policy
University records are documents created, received or accumulated during the conduct of Texas Tech University business.  Records sought for the University Archives include those that demonstrate the university's activities in teaching, research, student development, cultural enrichment, and campus growth.  Also collected are non-official records pertaining to the history of the university.  This includes faculty papers, organizational records, and student organizational records.

The types of records deemed worthy of permanent preservation are, in part, determined by the university's records retention schedule.  Routine fiscal documentation such as purchase orders and travel receipts are not accepted as they are considered short-term records.  Also, student academic records are not housed in the University Archives but rather reside with the Registrar's Office.

Materials not fitting the University Archives collecting scope can either be rejected, deaccessioned or disposed.  Due to limited space, only a small number of duplicate materials are kept at any time, unless the item(s) prove to be very rare and/or unique.

All University Archives materials are non-circulating and can only be used in the Holden Reading Room.  Use of University Archives materials are covered under the Policies of the Reading Room.

Faculty Papers
The University Archivist acquires, processes and makes accessible the papers of current and former faculty members.  These papers document the teaching and research functions of the university and are therefore an important insight to the academic life of Texas Tech and its growth.  Click here for more information on what types of materials are collected. 

To view which faculty papers currently reside in the University Archives, go to the collection finding aids.

Historical Information on Texas Tech University
Passed on February 10, 1923, Senate Bill No. 103 is commonly referred to as the school charter.  Lubbock, Texas, was officially selected as the site of a new college on August  8, 1923 by the Locating Board.  In the fall of 1925, Texas Technological College opened.  Then, from 1959-1969, debates grew over renaming the college, and on Sept. 1, 1969, the Board of Directors officially change the name to Texas Tech University. 

Click here to read tidbits on Texas Tech, including digital scans of Techsan Retrospective articles, the establishment of Texas Tech, departmental histories, a list of Horn Professors, a who's who of administrators, trivia about TTU buildings and structures, and statistics compiled by the university on such matters as enrollment, graduation, location distribution, test scores, gender, ethnicity, and age.

Texas Tech Publications
The University Archives is the official repository for campus and alumni journals, newsletters, press releases and newspapers.  Among these are the Texas Techsan, the Catalyst, the La Ventana, the Toreador and the University Daily.  Additionally, books published by Tech faculty are available.  All items are non-circulating and are available for viewing in the Holden Reading Room.

Theses and Dissertations (T/D)
The University Archives houses official copies of student theses and dissertations.  These non-circulating books may be requested for viewing in the reading room.  Duplicate copies may be checked out at the main Library.

Texas Tech has made available online electronic copies of its theses and dissertations starting from 2005 to present.  The theses and dissertations are also being added to the Texas Digital Library website, where you can browse through several universities' T/D publications.

To purchase a copy of a Texas Tech thesis or dissertation, go to UMI's website.

Transferring Materials to the University Archives
All university records should adhere to the records retention schedule.  Once records become inactive, only those that have been determined as having permanent value should be transferred to the University Archives.  All others should be disposed of according to the manner cited in the records retention schedule.  When in doubt, don't throw it out but rather call the University Archivist for help.

When sending items to the University Archives, records should be kept in their original order and folder [i. e. never loosely dumped], boxed in a sturdy container, and have attached a sheet stating who is the sender/department, a contact phone number and a listing of what records are enclosed.  Preferably, materials should not to sent without first making contact with the University Archivist.

Donors not currently affiliated with Texas Tech, such as alumni, should contact the University Archivist directly.

For More Information on using University Archive materials, contact:

Lynn Whitfield, University Archivist
Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library
Box 41041
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas 79409-1041
Phone (806) 742-3749
Fax (806) 742-0496

Last Updated 10/22/09