Archives and Special Collections

  The “Apollo in the Archives: Selections from the Neil Armstrong Papers” exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight that landed on the moon – where Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong took those famed first steps – and coincides with Purdue University’s July celebration of the moon landing, as well as the University’s […]

Located in the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC), the Barron Hilton Flight and Space Exploration Archives collection was created to document and preserve Purdue University’s relationship to flight and space exploration. In the history of flight and space, there are two monumental events that stand out: one was the Wright Brothers’ achievement of […]

Every story has untold pieces. Purdue University Archives and Special Collections contains millions of stories in the many papers, books, objects, items, and other memorabilia carefully preserved and stored there. Yet, it does not hold them all—particularly those that may have not been “judged to be…important,” as noted in the introduction of the new online […]

Purdue at 150: A Visual History of Student Life by David M. Hovde, Adriana Harmeyer, Neal Harmeyer, and Sammie L. Morris with a Foreword by Drew and Brittany Brees tells Purdue’s story through rare images, artifacts, and words. The authors culled decades of student papers from scrapbooks, yearbooks, letters, and newspapers to historical photographs and memorabilia […]

  Courtesy of Purdue News Service The public will have a chance to get a closer glimpse into Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong’s life through an exhibition presented by Purdue Archives and Special Collections. “Apollo in the Archives: Selections from the Neil A. Armstrong Papers” opens March 18 and runs through Aug. 16. The exhibition commemorates […]

A new Purdue Archives and Special Collections exhibit that focuses on the experience of international students at Purdue University throughout the institution’s history is open! “Around the World in 150 Years: Purdue International Footprint” highlights a variety of cultures, countries, activities, and time periods represented in the holdings of Archives and Special Collections, with a […]

Courtesy of Abbey Nickel, Purdue Marketing and Media Imagine being able to open a time capsule with just a click of a button. The newly launched Purdue Campus Facilities and Buildings Historic Database allows users to take a closer look at the metamorphosis of Purdue’s buildings over the years that goes beyond just maps and […]

“A Look Back” is a new exhibit in the Humanities, Social Science, and Education (HSSE) Library that pays tribute to Purdue University’s first Library in University Hall. The event “Celebrating the History of Purdue Libraries”–to highlight the display and commemorate Purdue Libraries’ history–is set from 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8 in the Periodical Reading Room […]

Purdue University Libraries Professor Sammie Morris and Assistant Professor Nastasha Johnson are part of a Purdue University interdisciplinary team that received a grant from the National Historical Records and Publications Commission (NHPRC) “to provide training for archivists across the country by developing and facilitating the Archives Leadership Institute (ALI) for the next generation of archivist […]

Purdue University Libraries’ unique archive on psychoactive substances research has been named and is now known as the Betsy Gordon Psychoactive Substances Research Collection. Recently, with Gordon’s support, Purdue Libraries established an endowed archivist position in the Purdue Archives and Special Collections (a division of the Libraries) to lead and grow collections relating to the […]

Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) latest exhibit highlights the physical growth and evolution of Purdue’s West Lafayette campus since the University was founded in 1869. “Building Purdue: 150 Years of the West Lafayette Campus” will be on display from Monday, Aug. 27–Friday, Dec. 14 in the ASC (located on the fourth floor of […]

A new exhibit, “The Sixties: A Decade of Triumph, Struggle, and Change” from Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, a division of Purdue Libraries, features a rich variety of artifacts, photographs, and documents, all from the Archives’ collections. According to Archivist for University History Adriana Harmeyer, the artifacts and displays spotlight the student experience at […]

For our final From the Archives photo this semester, we look way, way back to the oldest photo of campus.  Where is this?  Can you identify any of the buildings?  When would this have been taken? Share your ideas in the comments and check back on Friday to learn the details about this photo.

Spring is here, which means warmer weather and baseball season!  Baseball has always been a popular activity at Purdue.  Can you identify the location of this baseball game?  When was it?  How many landmarks can you identify in the background?  Share your theories in the comments and check back on Friday for the full story! […]

In this image, many people have gathered to complete an important task that is a regular part of every student’s college experience.  What are they doing?  How was it organized?  Where is this? Share your ideas in the comments and check back on Friday for the full story!

Purdue students have always enjoyed hands-on activities as part of their coursework, gaining real world experience as they prepare for their future careers.  What course of study are these students following?  What are they doing?  Where are they?  Share your ideas in the comments and check back on Friday for the reveal!

Many buildings have housed Purdue’s departments and organizations.  Those that are gone often played an important role in the foundation and growth of programs that still exist on campus today.  Do you know what organization was based in this structure?  How long was this building its home?  Where was it located?  Share your ideas in […]

It’s always a good time to celebrate Purdue!  In this image, we see a large group of people parading along a West Lafayette street.  Can you identify the location and the time period?  Where might they have been going? Share your guesses in the comments and check back on Friday when we reveal the full […]

Winter break is over and classes are back in session, but Purdue’s campus still looks like a winter wonderland.  Students have been trekking through snow to travel between their classes, dorms, and activities, just as they always have.  The features in this photograph are no longer part of the campus landscape, but can you identify […]