Collections Policy for Archives and Special Collections

Mission Statement

Lavery Library’s Archives and Special Collections seek to collect, preserve, and provide access to the rare and unique materials housed in the collection and promote the use of these materials by the St. John Fisher University community, scholars, and the public. We strive to support the Fisher curriculum and student experience, research and scholarship, and amplify untold stories from our collections.

Collection Scope

Archives and Special Collections houses institutional records of the university, artwork, rare books, and archival collections.

The Archives contain records of enduring value that chronicle St. John Fisher University from its founding through the present. 

Topics held within Special Collections are:

• Social conflict and discovery: Collections that document individuals, groups, and events from the mid-19th to 20th centuries in the United States, specifically focusing on the Rochester region’s impact. These subjects include abolition, anti-slavery, suffrage, Indigenous peoples’ rights, experiences of Civil War veterans, the rise of industrialization, and more.
• Rochester Radio History: Collection of historic audio recordings, photographs, ephemera, scrapbooks, and documents specific to the radio broadcasting industry in Rochester, NY, with a special emphasis on WHAM history and personalities.
• Community and programmatic affiliates: Collections that detail individuals, communities, and groups associated with the establishment and ongoing success of St. John Fisher University (including historic information on the Congregation of St. Basil), as well as key figures, research, and innovation associated with the St. John Fisher University curriculum.

Types of Materials Collected

Archives and Special Collections contain rare books, paper documents, bound volumes, photographs, audiovisual media, historic newspapers, ephemera, physical artifacts, and digital materials.

Gifts of artwork are considered on a case-by-case basis and reviewed by the University Art Collection Committee. (The committee will consider artistic merit, the piece’s relation to the university’s mission, availability of space, necessary maintenance, and condition of the object.) See the Art Gift Policy for additional information.

Collecting Guidelines

Materials may be acquired by gift, bequest, purchase, or any other transaction that passes title of the materials to Lavery Library Special Collections. Costs associated with acquisition, cataloging, preservation, and maintenance of collections, as well as space restraints, must be taken into account when considering adding collections. Preference will be given to collections where external financial support for processing, preservation, and/or staffing of collections is available. The Library Director will have final approval on all acquisitions. Items that are not consistent with the Lavery Library Special Collections Mission Statement or Collection Scope will be considered for deaccessioning from the collection. These items may be transferred to another institution or sold when appropriate as deemed by the Library Director.

Special Collections Deed of Gift Form [pdf]

Loan of Materials

Items may be loaned for a period of no longer than one calendar year. Adherence to the ACRL Guidelines for Borrowing and Lending Special Collections Materials for Exhibition is required. A loan agreement must be completed. The Library Director has final authority on all Special Collections loans.