Hamersly Library

Mission
The University Archives collects, stores, organizes, promotes and makes accessible a wide variety of records, publications, photographs and artifacts about the history of Western Oregon University. Its collections describe and document student and faculty life, building history, and key events at Western since its founding in Monmouth, Oregon in 1856.

Instructional Use
Faculty are encouraged to integrate Western's history into classroom assignments and projects. Students have documented public sculpture on campus, discovered the history of campus buildings, documented the history of women students at Western, and created departmental histories by using the Archives collections.

Contact Archivist Erin Passehl for suggestions and assistance in planning assignments and in providing classroom presentations or tours for your class.

Subject Indexes
The Archives collections are organized into major subject categories. Subject indexes, also called finding aids, list specific subject headings within each category, and will be available at this web site in the future. Click here for more information . . .

Tours, Exhibits, and Presentations
Faculty, student organizations, outside groups, or individuals may arrange for class or individual tours or for a presentation about the Archives or an aspect of Western's history. Archives materials may be exhibited in the Library or other campus buildings.

Donations
University Archives welcomes the donation of photographs, textiles, diplomas, scrapbooks, artifacts, letters, records, and other materials related to student and faculty life and Western's history. 

History of Western
A variety of information about Western's history has been prepared by the Archives staff. Notebooks of campus history topics have been placed on Reserve at the Library. Other information including a bibliography, campus chronology, lists of founders, presidents, buildings, and institutional name changes will be available on this Website in the future.
Click here for more information . . .

Location and Contact Information
The University Archives are located in the Hamersly Library on Monmouth Avenue. Visitors may request a guest parking pass at the Information Desk in the first floor lobby.

Contact Information
If you have a question about any aspect of Western's history or would like to consult materials, you may use the online Inquiry/Request form or contact us via phone or mail with your request.. Users who request information by mail will be asked to reimburse for postage and photocopying expenses.

Other Resources
While the University Archives contains a wide variety of information about Western's past history, several other campus offices should also be consulted for specific types of questions. Off-campus, a number of local public libraries, archives, museums, genealogical associations and county and city offices retain information about Polk County history and keep records about the individuals who worked at Western or attended the institution.
more information