Founded in 1945 as the University's official repository, the University Archives strives to ensure the timeless preservation of historically significant documents and other materials that reflect the University's origins as well as the development and the activities and achievements of its officers, staff, faculty, students, alumni, and benefactors. University Archives holdings deal with history of the University of Pennsylvania and of prominent persons associated with the University and also with the history of institutions of higher learning in the United States, American intellectual life, and the Philadelphia community in which the University lives.

The University Archives is the place to learn Penn history and to do research in primary source materials related to the University. Researchers can access most collection guides and many primary documents on-line.

• Secondary sources of the University Archives include over 2,500 volumes and 450 current and retrospective titles.

• Primary source materials include:

• More than 14,000 cubic feet of ARCHIVES AND MANUSCRIPTS

• More than 35,000 IMAGES (including photographs, drawings, prints, paintings, and other visual materials)

• More than 150 cubic feet of University DECORATIVE ARTS AND MEMORABILIA

The University Archives branch of University Archives and Records Center is open to the University community and the scholarly public.

• Research and reproduction services are available for researchers.

• Guides to the collections provide information on the holdings of the University Archives.

• The Protocols describe University policy regarding restricted records not open for research.

• Contact the University Archives for assistance or further information.

University Records Center
is the place for secure storage and prompt delivery of inactive University and Health System records