Special Collections and University Archives

The Louis J. Blume Library Special Collections and University Archives collects, organizes, preserves, and makes accessible materials of enduring value that support the mission of St. Mary's University. The University Archives houses materials which document the history of the University.

Undergraduate, graduate, and public researchers are welcome to consult our collections. All manuscript, archives and rare book items must be consulted in our reading room by making an appointment in advance of your visit. Please contact archives@stmarytx.edu with any questions.

Pencils or laptops are allowed for taking notes. Handheld cameras, tablets, or cellphones are recommended for photographs, which may be used for research purposes only. Photocopies and digital scans from the special collections are completed by library staff  and can be requested only of unbound and non-fragile materials. Researchers must ask permission before publishing, posting, or otherwise broadcasting copies of any materials in our collections.

It is recommended that researchers complete secondary research on a topic before embarking upon primary research with archival collections. If this is your first time doing archival research, we recommend that you consult the Society of American Archivists web guide Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research.