Hours & Appointments
Open: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Access: By appointment (researchers must schedule in advance so we can prepare materials).
Mission
The University Archives advances teaching, research, and community memory by actively collecting, preserving, and providing open access to the documentary, photographic, and material record of USAO and its predecessor institutions.
Who We Serve
We support the research needs of students, faculty, staff, historians, genealogists, and the general public.
Digital Collections & Sponsorship
We are actively digitizing high-use materials to expand access.
The Trend (student newspaper): Fully digitized, 1919–2003.
The Argus (yearbook): 13 years digitized to date.
It costs $250 to digitize one complete Argus year. Interested in sponsoring a yearbook? Contact us!
Student Archives Project
We maintain a database of historical student records to track changes in the student body over time.
Onsite: Full access for approved research.
Collections Overview
The Archives are informally organized into five sections:
University Collection Board of Regents minutes, Faculty Association records, presidential files, and governance documents.
OCW Collection (Oklahoma Industrial Institute for Girls and Women / Oklahoma College for Women) Records and artifacts documenting student life and institutional history during the OCW era.
OCLA Collection (Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts) Materials related to the OCLA period and its students, programs, and activities.
USAO Collection Records and artifacts from the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma era.
Non-University Collection Donor-contributed materials with no direct institutional origin but maintained for research value and safe stewardship.
Holdings Snapshot (approximate)
400 books
300 linear feet of manuscripts
15 linear feet of photographs
10 drawers of oversized photographs
50 scrapbooks, photo albums, and additional items pending processing
OCW Collection Highlights
Student Placement Files: ~115,000 pages (≈ 4,200 files) documenting education, biographical data, references, and a wide range of professional and personal interests.
Alumnae Files: ~4,200 files with biographical sheets and frequent additions (news clippings, photos, letters, CVs, obituaries).
The Trend: 46 years of the campus newspaper (typical issues 4–6 pages; campus/community news and advertising).
Featured Special Collections
Te Ata (Mary Thompson Fisher) Collection Letters, manuscripts, and garments from the celebrated Chickasaw performer and 1919 OCW alumna.
Gladys Anderson Emerson Collection Materials from the noted nutritionist/biochemist (OCW ’25), co-isolator of vitamin E; 1952 ACS Garvan Medal recipient.
Anna Lewis Collection ~500 documents on early exploration of Oklahoma and the Southwest; primary/secondary sources from the long-time OCW historian.
Frances Dinsmore Davis – Louise Waldorf Collection Theater costume and set designs, OCW ephemera, correspondence (e.g., Margaret Webster), photographs, and slides (subjects include Te Ata, Albert Einstein, Thurlow Lieurance, John Kieran). Davis served as Dean of Fine Arts; Waldorf was professor of violin and orchestra director.
Using the Archives
Appointments required: Helps ensure materials are retrieved, prepared, and preserved during use.
Handling: Researchers may be asked to use supports, gloves, or other aids to protect fragile items.
Reproduction & Copyright: Limited copying/scanning may be available subject to condition, rights, and policy.
Questions or appointments? Contact the Director of the University Archives, Nash Library.