About the University Archives & Special Collections

Although Biola was founded in 1908, the University Archives was not established until 1960. The purpose of the Archives is to collect and preserve materials relevant to the history of the school. Since historical collections require special environmental conditions, the role of the department was later expanded to also include the Rare Materials and other Special Collections.

Access and Use

Permission from the Archivist is required in order to examine the materials housed in this department. Access to the material is by appointment with the Archivist. The department does not have regularly set hours of service, due to minimal staffing.

Materials may only be used in the office; they may not be checked out or removed from the department. Materials may not be photocopied by users. Requests for photocopies must be approved by the Archivist and depend on the condition of the original materials.

The regular collections of the Library sometimes include circulating or reference copies of items which are also in the Archives. Please consult the Library Catalog for regular Library copies before requesting an appointment to access Archival materials.

Collections

The department contains collections which require special environmental conditions for the purpose of preservation and controlled access. There are three categories of materials:

1. Archives - materials of historical significance to Biola University
2. Rare Materials - rare books and other rare materials
3. Special Collections - materials which require special storage for preservation