University Archives
The University Archives are responsible for collecting, preserving, organizing, and describing the official records of the University. This collection includes artifacts, audio/visual materials, books, documents, photographs, and other papers of enduring administrative, legal, fiscal and historical value. Records that contain information regarding the University's origin, purpose, development and those of the University's officers, faculty and students are also collected here. The Archives seeks to add to its resources with selected personal papers of administrators, faculty and alumni.
The Archives are open to researchers the following hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 8:30-11:30
am; 1:30- 5 pm |
Hours may vary during summer and semester breaks. Access at other times may be arranged by the Archivist. For more information contact University.Archives@valpo.edu . If you prefer to speak to someone by phone, contact Special Collections Librarian Judy Miller at (219)464-5808 or University Archivist Melvin Doering at (219)464-5482.
Family History & Genealogy Research in the University Archives
All of the following sets of records are incomplete, but still may be useful to family historians researching former Valpo students:
-
Catalogs, some containing register of students from previous years
-
Commencement programs, 1869 to date
-
Pre-1925 alumni card file
-
Student grade books, 1908-1919. Includes names and grades only.
-
Student ledger books, 1895-1908. Includes student's name, address, next of kin,
and payments made to the University. -
The Torch, Valparaiso University's weekly newspaper, 1914 to 1992 incomplete on microfilm,
1967 to date on paper. 1943 to date also available on open shelves in the main library, AP 2 .T65 -
Yearbooks, 1911 to date (none published 1926, 1927); also available on open shelves in the main library,
LD 5565 .V45 A3
If you are unable to visit, please send your family history research request to the Archives, along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope and a $5.00 non-refundable check to cover the research fee. You will be billed 10 cents/page for copies of records with a minimum billing charge of $1.00. Please allow sixty (60) working days for a response. The mailing address is:
University Archivies
Christopher Center Library and Information Resources
1410 Chapel Drive
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Christopher Center Library Services has many resources to support the family historian's quest for historical, ethnic and geographical information. Although we do not collect genealogical materials (family histories, tombstone transcriptions, compilations of vital records) as a primary focus of our collection, some of our resources will support genealogists in their quest for family data. A pathfinder has been compiled to help Valpo students and staff who wish to begin their genealogical and family history quest, and for members of the northwest Indiana community who may find our collection useful: http://www.valpo.edu/library/user/genealogy.html
Valparaiso University Yearbooks
We have begun a yearbook digitization project and have scanned many yearbooks dating from 1928-1998. More yearbooks will be added as they are scanned. If you're looking for information on an alum, you can search by name or browse by year. To view the collection, go to http://www.valpo.edu/library/archives/yearbooks.
Presidents' Inaugural Addresses
To celebrate Valparaiso University's 75 years as a Lutheran university, we have gathered together the inaugural addresses of the six individuals who have been its presidents since 1925. For address texts and pictures of the presidents, go to http://www.valpo.edu/library/archives/presidents/index.html.
The Wienhorst Collection
This is a collection of indexes and a catalog of Richard Wienhorst's compositions (most of which are available for viewing at the Christopher Center). The collection also includes biographical information and publisher information: http://www.valpo.edu/library/wienhorst/index.html
Moellering Library
In honor of forty-five years as an integral part of Valparaiso University, this site includes pictures and history of the old Moellering Library building. In addition, information about pre-Moellering VU libraries is included. To view, go to http://www.valpo.edu/library/archives/moellering/index.html.
Christopher Center Dedication
Go to http://www.valpo.edu/clir/ for information about the Fall 2004 dedication, construction photos, and more.