About the University Archives

The Oregon Tech University Archives was begun by those who worked in the Oregon Tech Library in the 1990s. Memorabilia and manuscripts accumulated over the years and eventually librarians sifted through it and an organization pattern was established. In 2018-2020, an archival record-group organization was adopted in place of the old organization structure.

Digitization and description of our photograph collection started in 2011. Digitization of other works began with the Owler yearbooks, which was completed in 2019. For the 75th anniversary of Oregon Tech student newspapers were digitized and uploaded to the collection.

 

Location and Contact Information

The University Archives is located in Klamath Falls on the second floor of the Learning Resources Center. To use this collection, contact the Oregon Tech Library at 541-885-1772 or via email at university.archives@oit.edu. Click to see our Campus History Digital Collection and The Owler Yearbooks from 1951 through 1983.

Frequently Asked Questions

The University Archives (UA) works closely with donors to identify materials that should be preserved pertaining to students, staff, faculty, and administration.

The Archives collects materials from graduates related to their college years and photographs of campus life. 

The legal transfer of the materials from the donor to the University Archives occurs when the donor reviews and signs a gift agreement, formally making a gift of the collection to the library. Please note that the University Archives can only invest materials and labor in the care of collections that it owns, which means we do not accept materials on loan.
If your donation contains sensitive material, University Archives staff will discuss the possibility of restricting access to it to protect your privacy. If the donation contains university records deemed confidential by state or federal law, University Archives staff will discuss this with you.
Copyright belongs to the creator of the original material (such as a book, a photograph, or a work of art), however it can be legally transferred. To let researchers utilize our collections immediately in their research, our institution suggests the transfer of copyrights to the Oregon Tech University Archives.
Collections are kept in environmentally controlled, secure, closed collection room areas and do not circulate outside of the University Archives. Staff members retrieve them from the storage room for research use in a supervised reading room. When the department is closed, an electronic security system and security staff of the university protect its contents. Collections are arranged and described by experienced, professional archivists and student assistants, and are available for research access.
Providing physical and intellectual control of valuable collections is expensive. Donors who can do so are encouraged to provide financial support for the arrangement, description, and preservation of their papers or records. See https://www.oit.edu/libraries/about/giving
Public Affairs holds onto films and images for several years before they transfer them to University Archives. However, we do have photos of past sport events within the Campus History Digital Collection, The Owler Yearbooks and Student Newspapers

The Archives has several full sets of The Owler. We will accept copies of the early Oregon Tech yearbooks, if any exist, prior to 1951 or after 1983 (1981-1982 are missing). If you have something to donate or would like to help support our work, please email university.archives@oit.edu