To find out more about using the Purdue Archives and Special Collections, view our ASC Overview guide or visit our website to the Archives and Special Collections to use a variety of different search tools.
The Archives are located on the fourth floor of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSSE) Library. We are open to the public Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM until 4:30 PM. Hours may be abbreviated during semester breaks and in the summertime. We encourage visitors to contact us about your research visit in advance so that we can better serve you.
Email: archives@purdue.edu Phone: (765) 494-2839
The Purdue University Archives and Special Collections contains hundreds of thousands of photographs relating to the history, administration, and culture of Purdue University. We also have photos pertaining to our specialized collecting areas, including space and flight, psychoactive substances research, and the women’s archives. These photos can come in the form of large photographic collections consisting of thousands of photos, smaller photographic collections, individual photos from various manuscript and records collections, or from scrapbooks. Some have been digitized while some come directly to us in digital format, but the majority of them exist in some sort of physical medium such as prints, negatives or slides. While it may not be possible to have all our photos in digital format, our goal is to make photos of people, places and events discoverable through online user-end search tools. This guide can be used as a starting point in your search. At any point in your research, do not hesitate to contact the archives staff for assistance.
Knowing where to begin when looking for photos can be a daunting task. Here are some starting points that are explained in further detail on the corresponding pages in this guide. At any point in your research, do not hesitate to contact an archives staff member for assistance. We are here to assist you and may have access to some search tools that are not yet published.