University Archives, Special Collections, and the
Radford Rooms
The Radford University Archives serves as the official and final
repository for the historical records of Radford University from
its establishment in 1910 to the present time. The Radford University
Archives' mission is:
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To collect, evaluate, organize, describe, preserve, and make
available records of permanent administrative and historical
value created or received in connection with the transaction
of the affairs of Radford University, as defined in the Archives
Collection Development Policy.
-
To serve as a research center for the study of the University's
history by the University population and the scholarly community
at large;
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To provide reference and information services to assist in
the University's administration and operations;
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To promote knowledge and understanding of the origins, programs,
and goals of the University and its development;
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To facilitate the efficient management of the recorded information
produced by the University's units and offices;
- To provide adequate facilities for the retention, preservation,
processing, and research use of such materials.
Description of Collections
The University Archives is the repository of the following broad
categories of documents:
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Official records of the University's Board
of Visitors and its predecessor oversight bodies as
they relate to Radford University since its establishment in
1910; the records of the Student Government Association; and
the records of the faculty, staff, and administrative senates;
-
Official records from the offices of the President, Vice-Presidents,
Dean of Students and academic deans. These include the official
and personal papers of President John
Preston McConnell (1911-1937); the official papers of Presidents
David Wilbur Peters (1937-1951), Charles Knox Martin, Jr. (1952-1972),
Donald Newton Dedmon (1972-1994), and Douglas
Covington (1995-2005); and of Dean of Women M'Ledge Moffett
(1920-1962);
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University-sponsored publications, for example the Grapurchat
and Tartan student newspapers, the Radnor and Beehive yearbooks,
course catalogs, and student handbooks;
-
Photographs of academic and student life, buildings,
and campus activities from 1913 to the 1980s;
- Materials that document the history of Radford's geographical
area, for example, the ledgers of Ingles Ferry and the records
of the Virginia
Iron Coal & Coke Company.
Access to Collections
The Radford University Archives is located in Rooms 534 and 536
on Level 5 of the Library. The holdings of the Radford University
Archives do not circulate; researchers wishing to make use of
materials are required to do so in the Archives research areas
under the supervision of Archives staff. The Archives has indexes
to the records of the University's Board of Visitors, Presidents
John Preston McConnell and Douglas Covington, the Grapurchat (the
student newspaper from 1921 to 1978) and the Virginia Iron, Coal
and Coke Company. Additional indexes of holdings will be made
available on the McConnell Library web site as those holdings
are processed. Permission to publish from any unpublished documents,
beyond the bounds of "fair use", must be obtained from
the holder of copyright. It is the researcher's responsibility
to secure that permission.
Special Collections
The Library's Special Collections, located in a secured area
on Level 1, consist of archival copies of certain Radford College
and Radford University publications. In addition, the Library's
Special Collections contain certain materials requiring special
protection or security due to their high monetary value or susceptibility
to theft; fragile condition; irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind nature;
or unusual historical value. Items located in Special Collections
are cataloged and may be identified by searching the Library's
online public access catalog (http://lib.runet.edu).
Items in Special Collections may be requested at the Reference
Desk and are restricted to use in the Library.
The Radford Rooms
The Radford Rooms occupy a suite of adjoining rooms located to
the right of the Library's main entrance on Level 3. These rooms
serve as a focal point for making publicly accessible materials
relating to the history of Radford University. On display are
a number of items associated with John Preston McConnell, the
first president of the University (1911-1937), as well as rare
panoramic photographs of the entire student body and faculty taken
from the 1910s to the 1930s, a Highlander band uniform, and unique
photographs of student life. Copies of the Beehive (the university's
student yearbook), Radford University Master's theses, and the
publications of RU faculty and staff are also shelved in the Radford
Rooms. Of special note is the collection of Boehm porcelain bird
sculptures, donated to the university in memory of Marjorie Pearson
Glenn, an alumna of the class of 1932. The Radford Rooms are open
for viewing during all hours the Library is open.
Gifts and Donations
The Library encourages the donation of materials that are in
keeping with the subject scope of the Archives collection, a complete
description of which may be found in the Radford University Archives
Collection Development Policy. Any donation requiring special
handling, storage, or cataloging beyond the resources and facilities
available to McConnell Library requires approval from the Archivist
prior to acceptance. Gifts of materials with mixed historical
value may be accepted if the Archivist has the right to discard
or otherwise remove items that are not within the subject scope
of the collection.
For more information about the Radford University Archives, contact
the Archivist at 831-5107 or email: aspelbrin@radford.edu, or
the Reference Desk at 831-5696 or email: refdesk@radford.edu.
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