Collecting Policy

 

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The mission of the Marquette University Department of Archival Collections and Institutional Repository is to collect, arrange, describe, preserve, and service records of enduring historical value for research, instructional, and administrative use. The archival and manuscript collecting program of the department is an extension of the spiritual, philosophical, and scholarly strengths of the university as a Christian, Catholic, and Jesuit institution.

Aside from records pertaining to Marquette University and its involvement in the local community, the department does not actively collect records relating to the Milwaukee area and its history.

University Archives 

The university archives collects records in all formats with enduring historical, informational, evidential, legal, or financial values relating to the history of Marquette. Of particular interest are photographic materials which document any facet of the university, as well as audio-video recordings relating to sports, entertainment, or other major events. In partnership with the Institutional Repository, the archives solicits books, articles, and other publications by faculty. The archives also selectively collects material from members of the Marquette community, including alumni.

The university archives selectively collects the academic and personal material of faculty, administrators, staff, and alumni which meet one or more of the following conditions:

1. The material is of a particularly unique or unusual nature.

2. The material documents the activities of an individual whose expertise and professional reputation extends beyond the Marquette community and has national significance.

3. The material complements or otherwise enhance existing collections in the university archives.

Acceptance of collections presented for donation which do not meet the above conditions will be made on a discretionary basis. 

Manuscript Collections

Collecting is focused on the following:

1. Records and papers which document the involvement of Catholic and Catholic-adjacent organizations, movements, and individuals in promoting social change in the United States, including change within the Catholic Church.

2. The records of organizations which document Catholic activity among Native Americans in the United States.

3. Material useful for studying the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and the history of Tolkien Studies.

4. The records of Marquette alumni relating to the collecting areas described above, as well as the records of alumni who are artists, writers, journalists, or are active in local, state, or national politics as elected or appointed public officials. 

Institutional Repository

The Institutional Repository collects the research output of current Marquette faculty, staff, and students. It is responsible for the preservation and dissemination of Marquette's research output, including faculty publications, student theses and dissertations, journals, research data, digital humanities projects, and the digitization of archival collections. Here is information on how to submit research. 

Read the Archives/IR Joint Mission Statement.

Rare Books

Raynor Library is not actively collecting rare books at this time; however, it may accept gifts in areas that are strengths of its existing holdings:  Jesuit history, Catholic theology, the exploration of North America, early 20th century American and British literature.

 

This Collecting Policy was last updated in March 2026.