Donating to the Archives

Donating to the Archives and Special Collections

Radford University History

The University Archives collects material related to the history of Radford University.  Materials we collect include:

• Photos of students, events, life at RU, preferably identified with date and names
• Diplomas
• Records of student organizations, such as founding documents, meeting minutes, reports, publications, flyers, and photographs
• Publications, such as newsletters, programs, and flyers
• Small artifacts such as buttons and memorabilia (space considerations prohibit our accepting larger items)
• Materials that describe or document life at Radford, such as scrapbooks, diaries, letters, and photographs
• Clubs, sorority, fraternity, and social groups materials, including meeting minutes, publications (flyers, announcements, etc), photos, scrapbooks,  etc.
• Biographies, diaries and photos from former RU faculty and staff
• Biographies, diaries, and photos from former Board of Visitors members
• Posters, flyers, handbooks, programs, and other documents related to sports at RU
• Posters, flyers, handbooks, programs, and other documents related to social activities at RU (dances, club activities, field trips, etc.)
• Posters, flyers, handbooks, programs, and other documents related to cultural programs at RU (concerts, art exhibits, plays,  literary events, visiting artists, etc.)

Regional History

The Appalachian Collection collects materials that document the history and culture of Southwest Virginia and Appalachia. We are looking for:

• Photographs, letters, diaries, family histories, and other documents that illustrate life in Southwest Virginia
• Maps, postcards, posters, brochures, and other items that document life in Southwest Virginia, especially relating to travel, the arts, church life, and civic organizations
• Records and documents from small businesses or family farms in Southwest Virginia
• Local histories or community histories from Southwest Virginia.
• Histories or photographs of schools and public education in Southwest Virginia
• Old newspapers, magazines, city directories, phone books, and other items from communities and counties in Southwest Virginia

Donations of materials are considered gifts to the RU Archives and Special Collections, and will become a permanent part of the Archives and Special Collections.  Donors will and be asked to sign a deed of gift indicating that their materials will become property of the Radford University Archives and Special Collections. Donated materials will be organized according to archival principles, stored in secure conditions, and will be made available to researchers in a supervised, secure environment.

More information about donating items is available on the following pages, which can be downloaded as Adobe PDF files:

• Donating Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
• Donor Gift Form
• Collection Development Policy

 

Visiting the Archives and Special Collections

We welcome visitors and scholars, but we request that you make an appointment. For information or to arrange an appointment, please contact Gene Hyde, Archivist and Appalachian Collection Librarian, at wehyde@radford.edu or 540-831-5692.

All photos are from the Radford University Archives