Primary contact
McPherson Library, University of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
University of Victoria Archives
In 1973, the Senate established the Archives in the McPherson Library to preserve the institutional archives of the University of Victoria and its predecessors, Victoria College and the Provincial Normal School. The Archives also preserves private archives of individuals and organizations associated with the university and its predecessors. Private archives related to these parent institutions include, primarily, individual faculty and student individuals and organizations.
In 1995, responsibility for private archives relating to British Columbia history was transferred from Special Collections to the University Archives. These private archives primarily consist of the records of individuals and organizations in the Vancouver Island and Pacific coast region. However, some material also covers the geographical region of British Columbia, western Canada, central Canada and the United States. Subjects include anarchist studies, environmental studies, the women's movement, labour history, political affairs, the social sciences, transgender history, and arts and culture.
The predominant geographical region is the southern Vancouver Island and Pacific coast region. Some fonds and collections extend to mainland BC, western Canada, central Canada and the United States.
The predominant date range of the material is 1940-1990. The inclusive dates are 1780-2009.
University of Victoria Senate
The University Archives is a unit within the University Libraries.
The University Archivist reports to the University Librarian.
The Associate Archivist has a joint reporting relationship to the University Archivist for archives and records management and to the University Secretary for Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy administration. The Archives currently has one full time assistant who reports to the University Archivist.
Archives and Special Collections are separate units, which acquire archival materials under separate collections policies. Archives and Special Collections share public access and storage areas.
The Archives provides records management support to administrative and academic offices to ensure preservation of the University's corporate memory. For more information on records management and collection policies and procedures see the listed resources at the following link: <a href="http://www.library.uvic.ca/site/archives/" target = "_blank">http://www.library.uvic.ca/site/archives/</a>.
UVic Archives is located in the William C. Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library
Libraries webpage: <a href="http://library.uvic.ca/site/about/index.html" target="_blank">http://library.uvic.ca/site/about/index.html</a>.
UVic Archives holdings include textual records, photographs of various formats, audio and video recordings, motion picture films, posters and other ephemera, microforms, maps and computer disks, and objects.
Printed finding aids are available on site.
September 1 to April 30: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
May 1 to August 31: Monday to Friday, 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.
UVic Archives is open to faculty, staff, students and the general public.
Photo I.D. is required
Use of pens is prohibited
Food is prohibited
Personal belongings and water bottles must be placed in the storage area provided
Patrons may do their own scanning of non-restricted material in the reading room with their own equipment
UVic Archives and the William C. Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library are wheelchair accessible.
UVic Archives staff respond to in-person, email and telephone enquiries.
We are unable to undertake general research on patrons' behalf. For a list of independent archival researchers, please see British Columbia Archives Independent Research Agent Register at: <a href="http://www.bcarchives.bc.ca/BCarchives/researchers_list.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.bcarchives.bc.ca/BCarchives/researchers_list.aspx</a>
Photocopying:
$0.10 per 8x10 page, self-serve
$0.25 per page, orders done by staff
Scanning:
$20.00 for 1-10 scans
$40.00 for 11-20 scans
$60.00 for 21-30 scans
$2.00 per scan for 30+ scans
UVic Archives and Special Collections location:
Reading room - A005
Lower Level of the Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library
Wireless internet is available throughout Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library for users with a UVic Netlink I.D
For more information about the Biblio Cafe at the Mearns Centre for Learning/McPherson Library and other food service outlets, please go to: <a href="http://hfcs.uvic.ca/food/outlets.php" target="_blank">http://hfcs.uvic.ca/food/outlets.php</a>.
For more information about getting to UVic, please go to: <a href="http://www.uvic.ca/maps/directions.html" target="_blank">www.uvic.ca/maps/directions.html</a>.
Revised October 2009.
Revised by the University Archivist, August 27, 2011.