University Archives

About the University Archives

The University Archives preserves UC Irvine's historically significant records, as defined by the University of California, Irvine Administrative Policies and Procedures, Section 721-12: Archives Policy, from the founding of UC Irvine in the early 1960s through the present. In addition to a vast collection of historical campus and area photography, they house materials on the planning and growth of the campus, academic and administrative programs and services, student life, campus culture, and community relations.

Transfer records to the University Archives

The University Archives acquires departmental records that are inactive and designated for archives review by the UC Records Retention Schedule. The University Archives does not collect all university records but aims instead to acquire only records documenting the university's decisions-making processes, significant events, projects, and individuals, and essential cultural history. Approximately 1–5% of records created and received by UC Irvine should be transferred to the University Archives. One copy of all UC Irvine published materials should come to the University Archives.

To strengthen our University Archives holdings, we are actively documenting the following:

• Student organization records that document the creation of the group, significant events, and activities

• Student publications in all formats, including zines produced by student organizations
 or as part of UC Irvine coursework

• Student life and campus culture, including events, performances, and social life
• Student-led activism, documenting on and off campus events, protests, marches, impromptu performances  
• Student support, such as disability services, mental health, cultural centers and services, undocumented student services, LGBTQ+ student services, student retention, and first-generation student services
• Documents recording the vision and impact of senior leadership, including UC Irvine chancellors and vice chancellors
• Records from academic deans and department chairs to document the significant activities, decisions, individuals, curricula, and teaching of each school
• Records from all campus communications units, including photographs, audiovisual content, press releases, research files, etc.

Our collecting priorities for core administrative records of UC Irvine are shaped by the University of California Archivists Council (UCAC) joint Policies for Administrative of University of California Archives. These are defined below.

In 2024, UCAC published a Joint Statement on Email as a University Record.

Administrative Records

• University administrators, including the Chancellor’s Office, vice chancellors, provosts, and deans (including correspondence, organization charts, minutes of meetings, annual reports, calendars)
• Facilities and planning (planning documents and "as-built" drawings)
• Academic Senate (including educational planning committee)
• Contracts and Grants (annual reports)
• Registrar (vital records not necessarily retained in University Archives)
• Accreditation documentation
• Founding and incorporation documents

Nonadministrative Records

• Associated students (bylaws, minutes, founding documents)
• Student organizations with a substantial impact on campus
• Bio-Bibliographies and curriculum vitae of faculty

Publications

• Catalogs
• Directories
• Student newspaper
• Yearbooks
• Personnel manuals
• Faculty and staff handbooks
• Administrative websites

Nontextual Materials

• Photographs
• Audiovisual recordings
• Campus maps

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Explore

• Topical Strengths
• Major Formats
• Exhibits at UC Irvine Libraries