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The Special Collections Department contains two repositories, Special Collections and the University Archives. Special Collections houses materials from individuals, families, and organizations deemed to have significant historical and cultural value. The University Archives is the official home of the University’s valuable historical documents, collections, photographs, and publications. The Archives also holds the professional and personal papers of some faculty and alumni.
Collecting areas are regularly reviewed and modified; as circumstances change, these areas will be reevaluated and modified as appropriate.
Special Collections collects materials in the following areas:
- American History
- Classic and Contemporary Literature
- Fort Worth and Texas History
- Methodism and Religion
- Music Manuscripts
- Performing and Visual Arts
- Polytechnic Heights and Local History
- Rare Books
- Shakespearean Literature
The University Archives is currently collecting records related to students, faculty, academic programs, events, university offices, and campus organizations of Texas Wesleyan University and its forerunners Polytechnic College (1891-1914), Texas Woman’s College (1914-1934), and Texas Wesleyan College (1934-1988).
Records sought include:
- Campus publications, including: Catalogs, yearbooks, newspapers, magazines, brochures, etc.
- Theses, Professional Papers, Practicum Reports, Nurse Anesthesia papers, and similar projects
- Photographs, scrapbooks, oral history, memorabilia
- Records, newspaper clippings, minutes, grey literature (annual reports, self-studies, memos, presentation), and memorabilia related to university committees, schools, departments, and organizations
- Records charting the development of specific programs over time
- Personal papers of faculty if historically significant
- Materials related to Polytechnic Heights
- Programs, newspaper clippings, brochures, etc. concerning Local Arts
Archival Collection Gifts Policy
The Special Collections Department accepts donations from alumni faculty/staff, members of the community and non-university sponsored organizations on a case-by-case basis in keeping with its mission and it long term collection priorities. Materials from individuals or non-university sponsored organizations will not be accepted without a legal transfer of title through a Deed of Gift or Deposit agreement. Transfer of copyright to the archives is encouraged so that scholars can be granted permission from the archives to quote from the collection. Potential donors should be aware that the transfer of copyright would also be seen as granting us permission to place the materials online as a part of the University’s digital archives, should the University Archivist deem such digitization appropriate.
If you are interested in donating materials to the West Library’s Special Collections, please complete the Deed of Gift form.