History of the University Archive
The Wayne State University Archives were established by the Board of Governors in 1958 in recognition of the importance and permanent value of the University’s official files, records, and documents, and serves as the foundational collection at the Reuther.
Materials in this collecting area directly relate to the history of the university and its affiliates, as told through the official records of the administration, individual colleges, and departmental units, and the personal papers of faculty, alumni, and current students. From its beginnings as the Detroit College of Medicine to the present day, these records showcase university decision-making, valuable research conducted by faculty and students, and the impact of historical events on the student body.
University Collections
Wayne State University Resources immediately available in the Reuther Library Reading Room:
Student Newspapers
- The Detroit Collegian / The Daily Collegian, 1937-1967
- The South End, 1967-present
Vertical Files
- Subject and department files
- Biographical files (on 2000 WSU individuals, primarily faculty)
- Presidents' files
- Building files (on 85 individual WSU buildings
University publications
- Governing Body Proceedings
- Detroit Board of Education Proceedings, 1893-1968
- Board of Governors Official Proceedings, 1956-2008
- Faculty Newsletters
- The Faculty Bulletin, 1939-1954
- Inside Wayne, 1954-1968
- The Wayne Report, 1968-1982
- Inside Wayne State, 1981-1998
- Campus News, 1998-2003
- Life@Wayne, 2003-2004
- W.S.You, 2011-2012
- Newsletter, 1935-1969
- Alumni Newsletters
- Alumni News, 1943-1997
- Wayne State Magazine, 1987-present
Directories and handbooks
- Catalogs, Bulletins, and Course Schedules, 1917-present
- Faculty/staff directories, 1928-present
- Athletic programs, 1934-present
- Alumni directories, 1941-2007
- School of Medicine student directories, 1970-1975
- Law School student directories
Commencement programs, yearbooks, and photo directories
- Commencement programs, 1892-present
- Yearbooks, 1900-2005
- New Student Register, 1977-1979
- Law School Faces, 1990-1999
Reading Room Hours
Monday-Friday: 9:30am-12pm; 1-3:30pm
Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Appointments: Reference Archivist
