Welcome!

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Place all food and drink in the back of the room and leave backpacks beneath the table.

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Pencils are provided for your use

Introduction to the Northeastern University Archives & Special Collections

with Molly Brown, Reference & Outreach Archivist

mo.brown@northeastern.edu

Why would you donate something to an archive?

Understanding the Collections

University Archives

Special Collections

Meeting the University Archives

124 collections including:

• President’s papers
• Student club records
• University photographs
• Facilities records
• Course catalogues
• The Cauldron yearbooks

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Food history related collection example:

• Faculty Wives records

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Meeting the Special Collections

215 collections including:

• Records of social justice organizing around issues of housing, labor, civil rights, and climate.
• Collections of local newspapers including the Boston Phoenix, Gay Community News, Sampan and records from the Boston Globe Library.

What type of records might an organization keep?

Tools for researching in NU’s archival collections:

Finding Aids

(find detailed descriptions about our collections)

NU’s Digital Repository

(search all the Archives’ digitized records)

Questions to ask of archival material you find:

• What is striking about this record? (things you first learn, the format, the style)
• What questions do I have about this record?
• Where might I find the answers to my questions?
• What other archival material types could help me tell this story?

Using finding aids to guide your search

Want to explore more collections?

Find our digital collections portals:

�Boston School Desegregation records collections site

Chinese Progressive Association records collections site

Freedom House photographs collections site

Latinx Boston history collections site

LGBTQA history collections site (with Gay Community News)

Lower Roxbury Black History Project collections site

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Want to explore collections in person? Visit us!

• The Archives and Special Collections are open by appointment from 8:30 to 5:00, Monday through Friday.
• Email the archives to make an appointment the day before your visit at: archives@northeastern.edu
• Want to visit other archives but aren’t sure where? Email Molly for assistance: mo.brown@northeastern.edu

Contact the Archives:

Contact Molly with questions, to schedule a consultation, and to find archival material: mo.brown@northeastern.edu

Contact the Archives for any scan requests or specific reference questions: archives@northeastern.edu

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Contact the Library:

Have a quick question?:�Text (617-934-7876) or use Chat 24/7

Need help getting started with research or need a consultation?

Email your subject librarian or use the online form: g.merguerian@northeastern.edu

How to contact the Archives and Library for help: