Email us at archives@calpoly.edu
Phone: (805) 756-2305
Location: Building 35, Level 4, Room 409
Archives are not unbiased repositories of the past in its entirety, they are in fact spaces of gaps and silences. These gaps and silences are due to changing opinions of what materials people have considered "of enduring value," and can reflect historical, institutional, and internalized racism, classism, sexism, and ignorance of marginalized communities. Biases also impact archivists' description. Archives are not neutral.
Learn more about how to be a critical user of archives and primary sources.
Welcome! We created this guide for everyone as an intro to Cal Poly's Special Collections and Archives.
Special Collections and Archives is a unit in the library where you can find archival materials, rare books, and artists' books. The archives staff and student assistants can help you work with the collections and help you connect with archives and primary sources around the world. We are here to help with whatever archives and primary source questions you have. Everyone is welcome.
In addition to this general introduction guide to the archives, you can also browse our archives guides going in depth on many topics.
Archives Research: The Kennedy Library Transformation is underway, and Special Collections and Archives services will be impacted this summer until Kennedy Library reopens in September. For current information about reference support, research appointments, and digital file requests, please contact us at archives@calpoly.edu
Archives Instruction Sessions: Special Collections and Archives offers in person, remote synchronous and remote asynchronous instruction. Learn more.
Many digitized primary sources and collections from the archives are available online. Here is an overview of our online collections:
Online Archive: Over 25,000 items digitized from the archives, ranging from 1870 to the present, including historic photographs, documents, sound recordings, architectural plans and films: CSU Digital Archive.
Student Newspapers and Campus Documents Online:
The student newspaper is available from 1916-2011 on Digital Commons: Cal Poly Student Newspaper.
Digital Commons also provides access to a selection of campus documents and publications, including Academic Senate: Campus Documents.
Web Archives:Since 2015, Special Collections and Archives has been archiving the websites of the University, Mustang News, KCPR, and organizations that have donated their paper-based collections to the archives. The content of the web archives is searchable, and includes Youtube channels, select official social media accounts, and documents hosted online by the University. Archive-It.
Online Archive of California: Detailed descriptions of primary source collections available at Cal Poly Special Collections and Archives (and other California cultural heritage organizations). Links to Online Archive when there are digitized materials available from the collections: Online Archive of California.
Archives Student Assistant Keagan (ES '21) made this great video intro to the archives!
