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Donating and Transferring Material

  • What We Collect

    Archives & Special Collections seeks to preserve and make accessible the records, papers, artifacts, and stories that document the significant intellectual, cultural, administrative, and social history of the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and the individuals, families, and organizations representing the diverse population of the region. 

    We actively collect in the areas of  
    • UNC inactive official records 
    • UNC history and student life 
    • Regional history and diversity 
    • Education 
    • Performing and visual arts  
    • Faculty papers 
    • Alumni papers 

    UNC is also the designated repository for the writings and publishing legacy of James A. Michener. Archives & Special Collections collects materials produced by James A. Michener, associates, scholars, and collectors of Michenerana that will further scholarship about him, his activities, and his works. 

    We actively collect a range of materials including photographs, maps, printed books, manuscripts, personal narratives, diaries, letters, and organization records. We reserve the right to accept donations without restrictions, to turn away gifts prior to donation, and to appropriately dispose of materials that, after receipt, are deemed unsuitable to the collection. 

    For more information on the collecting areas of Archives & Special Collections, please see our Collection Development Statement

  • How to Donate and Transfer Material

    Archives & Special Collections is interested in collecting materials significant to the history of the region and the university. If you have materials that you are interested in donating, please contact us. 

    UNC Archives & Special Collections 

    Phone: 970-351-2854 

    library.archives@unco.edu  

    Archives & Special Collections actively collects UNC’s inactive official records and publications of lasting and historical importance, and material documenting the daily activities and special events of students at the university. For more information on transferring these materials to the University Archives, please see Transferring Records to the University Archives.

  • What Happens to Materials Once They've Been Donated?

    On arrival, donated materials receive any necessary preservation treatment and are re-housed into appropriate archival storage containers as necessary. Materials are then inventoried and made available for research in accordance with Archives & Special Collections access and use policies. In some cases, materials will be made available online.

  • Tax Deductions and Monetary Appraisal for Tax Deductions

    In certain circumstances it may be possible for the donor to take a tax deduction on the donation of historic materials. Potential donors are encouraged to speak with their tax accountants or attorneys about this possibility.  

    University personnel cannot provide advice or estimates on the monetary value of collections. Donors are responsible for arranging and bearing the cost of an independent appraisal. If the donor wishes to receive a receipt for charitable donations from Archives & Special Collections, the donor must provide a copy of the independent appraisal. 

    For more information on monetary appraisals, please visit the Society of American Archivists’ page on the Monetary Appraisal of Archival Material.

  • Additional Resources

    For more information about donating archival material please visit the following resources provided by the Society of American Archivists.