About the University Archives

Our primary goal is to serve as the depository of all university publications and records of historical and research importance.  In addition to collecting official university documents, we are also eager to acquire materials which document and depict the activities and functions of our entire university community, encompassing faculty, staff and students.

Within these guidelines, types of materials include:

Campus Publications: Memos, reports, announcements, brochures, catalogs, budgets and other miscellaneous materials of university divisions, colleges, departments, offices, support and extension services, and student groups and organizations. Archives holds runs of the following campus publications:

 

• University News Facts (Faculty and staff newsletter, May 22, 1970-October 29, 1971)
  •  University News Facts.(v.1, no. 1 May 22, 1970)
  •  University News Facts.(v. 2, no. 23 Sept. 17, 1971)
  •  University News Facts.(v. 2, no. 24 Sept. 24, 1971)
   
• Faculty and Staff Newsletters
  • Directions(v. 1, no. 1 October 1971 -- University newsletter, October 1971-Fall 1972)
  • Directions (v. 1, no. 3 Summer 1972)
  • Mariner  (v.2, no. 30 November 5, 1971 -- Faculty and staff newsletter, November 5, 1971-February 1995)
  • Inside UNF (Faculty and staff newsletter, March 1995 - to date)
   
• Student Newspapers
  • Halyard (v. 1, no. 1 January 9, 1974) First student newspaper, January 9, 1974-July 6, 1976
    Electronic version available on the World Wide Web as part of the Florida Heritage Collection. 
  • Phoenix (UNF journalism lab publication, August 16, 1976-March 7, 1977)
    Electronic version available on the World Wide Web as part of the Florida Heritage Collection. 
  • Campus Up-Date (Student newspaper, September 2, 1976-June 1977)
  • Spinnaker (Student newspaper, August 17, 1977 - to date)
   
• University Magazines
  •  UNF Soundings (UNF magazine, Fall 1984 - Fall 1989)
    Electronic version available on the World Wide Web as part of the Florida Heritage Collection. 
  • UNF Journal for Alumni and Friends (Spring 1992- to date)
     
   

Event Publications: Fine arts programs, commencement programs, seminar / conference and workshop announcements and other miscellaneous materials relating to university events and activities.

Speeches and addresses of UNF Presidents and other administrators at Presidential Inaugurations, UNF building groundbreakings and dedications, and other ceremonial events.

• Inaugural Address. President Adam W. Herbert. September 29, 1989.
• Groundbreaking and dedication speeches,1981-
   

Publications of any other state-supported organization closely related to the University (e.g., former State Board of Regents memos, minutes).

Newsclippings pertaining to the University of North Florida and its activities.  Clippings date from 1963 to date; indexes to contents are available.

Master's theses and dissertations (through Spring term 2012) written by UNF students; and monographs written by UNF faculty and staff.

Formats of our holdings vary considerably.  The collection includes traditional paper documents such as complete runs of university budgets, campus newspapers and college catalogs, as well as video / audio recordings, maps, architectural drawings, blueprints, awards, banners, artifacts, assorted memorabilia, photographs, slides, and negatives.  We also provide access to digital images and full text documents, such as these early UNF documents: 

 

• From Scratch Pads and Dreams: a Ten Year History of the University of North Florida, by Dr. Daniel Schafer
• The Impact of the University of North Florida on the Jacksonville Economy (1978)
• Leonardo da Vinci Venture Studies Program (1973)
• North Star (UNF yearbooks)
• Master Site Development Plan (1972)
• New State University in Jacksonville... (1969)
• New State University Opening... (1971)
• A Public Degree-Granting Institution of Higher Education for Duval County (1967)
• University of North Florida Catalog (1972-73 Part Two)
• University of North Florida Fact Book (1979)

We have automatic deposit of many primary documents from campus offices, but, for a good part of the collection (i.e, memorabilia, announcements, programs, etc.), we rely on the goodwill and assistance of college and departmental offices, and members of the UNF community.

We heartily encourage members to become active in collecting materials and to serve as our "eyes and ears" for potential donations.  Examples include: University offices being renovated, faculty /staff members retiring, etc. We will also be glad to go to campus offices and assess potential donations for placement in Archives.  

In addition, please keep Archives in mind when:

• Planning campus events ... announcements, programs, invitations would help us keep a record of elusive campus activities.  Please drop some copies in the Campus Mail to Jim Alderman, Library, University Archives.
• Producing mailing lists for offices ... put Archives on those lists to receive printed materials.
• Disseminating reports and other documents.

Due to the scarce / valuable / unique nature of the materials, they do not ordinarily circulate.  However, circulating copies of UNF faculty and staff publications, UNF master's theses and dissertations, and some governmental reports are available for checkout in other library collections. Photocopiers are also available for use on the first floor.

University Archives is on the first floor of the library. Because it has minimal staffing, appointments are necessary. Please call (904) 620-1533 or send an e-mail to alderman@unf.edu.

• Creating a University, UNF Oral History Project  
• Records Retention, Scheduling and Disposition (Florida) 
• Records Retention, Scheduling and Disposition (UNF Controller's Office) 
• UNF Faculty and Staff Monographs in Special Collections (1972-2012)
• UNF Founding Faculty Interviews (35th Anniversary, 2007)
• UNF Mascot: How the Osprey Became UNF's Mascot 
• UNF Past Presidents (1969-2003)
• UNF 35th Anniversary Highlights (1972-2007)
• UNF Timelines of History (1969-2007)
• UNF Timelines of History (1972-1997)