Signed by Territorial Governor Edward M. McCook around 1870, this letter is the only known copy of original legislation referring to the bill that provided for the founding of CSU, then known as the Agricultural College of Colorado.
Commencement Ceremony, June 1921, on the historic Oval.
History
Colorado’s Territorial Governor Edward M. McCook established the Agricultural College of Colorado in 1870. Since its creation, records of the school have been maintained by a number of administrators, administrative assistants, board and faculty members, and librarians. In 1957, the governing board approved the name change of the institution to Colorado State University. As the state’s only land-grant institution, we join the national tradition, vision, and mission of land-grant institutions.
In 1975, the State Board of Agriculture (now the Board of Governors) formally established the Colorado State University Archive. The archive was provided with an administrative home in the University Libraries system.
Collections
As the center for University history, the University Archive cares for and maintains more than 2,000 linear feet of artifacts, manuscripts, photographs, and records of CSU. We also house nearly 22,000 volumes of the University’s published materials including the Collegian, dissertations, newsletters, reports, Silver Spruce yearbooks, and theses. Access to the University’s published holdings is available through SAGE, our online catalog.
An archive is charged with three primary responsibilities:
- Identify and acquire records of the institution in all formats.
- Arrange, describe, and preserve the materials.
- Provide access to materials to patrons, both intellectually and physically.
The University Archive successfully meets these responsibilities through inventorying and processing our materials, providing the inventories and finding aids to patrons, and assisting patrons with reference requests.
University Historic Photographs
The University Historic Photograph Collection documents the history of Colorado State University and preserves its institutional memory. Approximately 500,000 images detail Colorado State University’s history with particular attention to academics, students and faculty, and the physical campus landscape. The University’s rich Extension Service history is also well represented, pointing to the importance of CSU not only to its students, alumni, and the Fort Collins community, but people throughout Colorado.
University Historic Photos Site
Researcher Access
We store materials in our main Morgan Library facility and our auxiliary facility; both are climate controlled. Patrons may use materials in the Archives reading room of Morgan Library, room 202. To better serve patrons, we encourage appointments of at least 48 hours notice. Many materials in the University Archive are stored off-site and require additional time for retrieval.
We welcome and encourage class visits and tours of our facility! Please contact us to learn more.
Records Management
Records management or record keeping practices at CSU are directly related the materials presently held in the University Archive. Records are generally considered to be materials that are created and kept to meet the needs and operations of an institution. Examples of permanent records are: committee materials, final budget materials, legal and administrative documents, meeting minutes, newsletters, press releases, reports, special audio/visual materials, and subject correspondence of your department or office. The University Archive staff is available for consultation and assistance regarding your office’s records and the transfer of the materials to the University Archive. To learn how to transfer your papers to the University Archive, please click here.