About UNCW Archives

UNCW Archives Mission

The mission is to select, collect and preserve public records of enduring historical value pertaining to the University of North Carolina Wilmington and to make this information available. Core objectives are appraisal, collection management, and preservation of collections in a wide variety of formats. By providing a broad array of information resources and services--including instruction in archival research methodology--Archives supports the mission of the university and the mission of Randall Library while documenting UNCW's history for current and future generations.

Access and Services

UNCW Archives provides access to unique materials requiring special handling and care. Because they are generally difficult or impossible to replace, Archives collections do not circulate and cannot be removed from Archives. Faculty, staff, students, and other researchers may visit Archives in Room 2008 Randall Library. Appointments to conduct research are strongly encouraged. Contact archives for research inquiries. Photocopying and digitization services are carried out in accordance with U.S. and International Copyright laws and treaties. Photocopying and digitization requests may be denied if materials are fragile.

Digital Collections

Randall Library offers a variety of digital collections that provide access to images and full text of unique materials and documents held by UNCW Archives and Special Collections. Digital collections allow users to "visit" our collections online instead of viewing originals onsite.

Buildings and Landmarks Campus buildings and landmarks, along with the history of the buildings and biographies of namesakes.
Images of UNCW Photographic prints, slides, and negatives from 1948 to the present day, including images of 1. Students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors 2. Student groups such as fraternities, sororities, student media, and classes, and 3. Student athletes and athletic contests.
Internet Archive: UNCW Collection Fully digitized, searchable versions of UNCW publications from 1947 to the present, including the Fledgling yearbook, UNCW Magazine for alumni and friends, Campus Communiqué faculty and staff bulletin, the Student Handbook and Code of Student Life, and course catalogs. Yearbooks are also available at Digital NC: UNCW Collection.
Randall Library Oral History Collection--Voices of UNCW Full-text transcripts of oral history interviews of faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and others.
Seahawk DOCKS UNCW's portion of a shared database called North Carolina Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (NC DOCKS). Designed by UNC Greensboro and shared with UNCG, East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, and UNC Pembroke, NC DOCKS is designed to hold digital, online copies of faculty articles, white papers, and other scholarly works, in addition to student theses and dissertations.
UNCW Athletics Awards Featuring the achievements of student athletes, this collection includes certificates, trophies, plaques, and artwork in Trask Coliseum and Archives.

Archives Collections

Books and Serials: Books, reports, and periodicals produced by or exclusively for UNCW or one of its divisions or colleges.
Flat/Oversize: Posters, scrapbooks, prints, maps, drawings, prints, blueprints, architectural drawings and other 2-D artwork
Manuscripts: Unpublished paper documents such as correspondence, meeting minutes, brochures, promotional materials, guides, handbooks, newsletters, photographs, and more. We do not collect confidential materials such as student records, grades, or medical records.
Objects: Awards, plaques, trophies, memorabilia, clothing, flags, banners, and assorted 3-D materials
Sound recordings: CDs and other recordings of concerts, interviews, and radio programs
Video, DVD, and other A/V materials: Film and video of events, programs, athletics and news

Searching the Archives and Special Collections Online Database

The Archives and Special Collections Online Database has finding aids, or inventories of archival collections held in UNCW Archives in Randall Library. When searching the Archives and Special Collections Online Database you will note that many of these resources are available on-site only, unless linked to digital versions.

Searching the Randall Library Catalog

Always search the Randall Library Catalog and the Archives and Special Collections Online Database for a complete search. There are some materials findable through one tool and not through the other. The following materials can be found via the Library Catalog.

Books and serials published by or exclusively for UNCW or one of its divisions or colleges (Some are also in the Archives and Special Collections Online Database). Some link to full-text online e-versions. Discoverable via the Library Online Catalog are reports and publications published by or exclusively for UNCW or one of its divisions or colleges.
Graduate theses and dissertations (None are in the Archives and Special Collections Online Database). Discoverable via the Library Online Catalog are graduate theses and undergraduate honors papers.
Senior honors papers (None are in the Archives and Special Collections Online Database)
Manuscripts: Books, reports, and brochures from the manuscript collection AMS 003.01.
Video, DVD, and other A/V materials: Some A/V materials are in the catalog. Many more are Archives and Special Collections Online Database, including visual oral histories.
Sound recordings: A few CDs and other recordings of concerts, interviews, and radio programs are in the catalog, most are not.