Special Collections and Archives
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Kennedy Library, Cal Poly
Gaps and Silences in Archives and Special Collections
While archives have been viewed as unbiased repositories of the past, they are in fact spaces of gaps and silences. These gaps and silences are due to historical, institutional, and internalized racism, classism, sexism, and ignorance of marginalized genders and sexualities. Bias enters both into what you find or don't find in the the archives--archival silence--and what you read in the archivist's description. Archives have never been neutral.
Learn more about how to be a critical user of archives and primary sources.
Special Collections and Archives areas of focus
There are millions of primary sources in our archives! But they aren't all digitized and aren't all in the library catalog. So how do you know what is here?
Most archives have areas they focus on, such as geographic areas, organizations, communities, and topics. Here some of our areas of focus and point to additional information on these areas.
University Archives
The University Archives includes records created about Cal Poly from 1900 to the present. Learn more at the University Archives Guide here.
San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast
Researching the Central Coast in Special Collections and Archives and beyond? Visit our Researching SLO County History Research Guide.
Architecture and the Built Environment in California
Learn more about the Julia Morgan architectural archives and the William F. Cody architectural archives.
Artists' Books
Learn more about the ever-expanding artists' books collection at the Artists' Books guide.
Browsing the archives on OAC
You may just want to browse the archives! In addition to the guides above, you can also browse lists of our archival collections at the Online Archive of California. Learn more about the OAC here.
Archives by communities, subjects, and themes
Sometimes, when you are just getting started with research in an archives, it can help to see collections from communities, or about topics and subjects, to get familiar. Here we've listed some of the archival collections that may be of interest as you begin your research. This is a selection to get you started. You can also browse many of our collections on the Online Archive of California.
Many of the archives relate to the experiences of communities on the Central Coast and California. Here are some of the archival collections:
- Gabriel L. Valencia Farm Labor Collection (MS0171)
- Murgia Chicano Latino Periodicals (MS0156)
- NAACP Convention Photograph Collection, July 1949 (MS0152)
- Alice M. Martin Papers (MS0122)
- Guadalupe Speaks Oral History Collection (MS0120)
- Ethnic Studies Oral History Collection (MS0105)
- Viva La Causa: A Decade of Farm Labor Organizing on the Central Coast - Traveling Exhibit (MS0102)
- Central Coast Farm Labor Organizing Collection (MS0098)
- Smith Family Papers on World War II (MS0065)
- Messinger Pacific Theater World War II Collection (MS0064)
- Painted Rock Pictograph Collection (MS0049)
- Manzanar Collection (MS0026)
- Cal Poly Multicultural Center
- With Our Own Eyes/Con Nuestros Propios Ojos Exhibit
- Louis Family Papers (MS0168)
- Re/Collecting Project Archive (MS0190)
The archives has many collections of environmentalists who were involved on the central coast, including activism around Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
- Bongio (Enrico) Papers, 1952-1993
- Central Coast Power Plants and Environmentalism Collection
- Coastal Alliance on Plant Expansion (CAPE), Records of the
- David A. Bainbridge Collection on Water Wall Passive Solar Design
- Dark Circle Documentary Film Collection
- Goddard Jones (Kathleen) Correspondence, 1918-2002 (bulk 1926-1932)
- Goddard Jones (Kathleen) Papers, 1933-2001 (bulk 1964-1994)
- McMillan (Ian) Papers, 1925-1990 (bulk 1960-1990)
- McMillan-Wreden California Condor Collection, 1953 (bulk 1953)
- Miossi (Harold) Papers, 1942-1990 (bulk 1975-1990)
- Mothers for Peace
- Robert L. Jones Papers on Morro Bay
- Wilson (Lee) Papers, 1956-1989 (bulk 1961-1972)
More about the library's Diablo Canyon Power Plant Documents
The archives holds a variety of materials that document the history of California Travel and Boosterism history, from train schedules to city brochures. These materials are cataloged in the library's catalog OneSearch. Explore the collection.