The University Archives and museums are generally open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The Archives closes from 12:00–1:00 p.m. The Reading Room is not available on Mondays. Hours may change during university holidays, closures, special events, or semester breaks. Visitors are encouraged to confirm hours before traveling to campus.

Appointments are strongly encouraged for researchers wishing to use archival collections. An appointment allows Archives staff to identify and retrieve materials in advance and helps ensure that staff are available to assist you. Visitors wishing only to view museum exhibits generally do not need an appointment during regular public hours. The museums are self-touring as our staff work on processing our collections.

The University Archives is open to Delta State students, faculty, staff, alumni, visiting researchers, community members, and members of the general public. Researchers may be asked to provide identification and complete a researcher registration form before using archival materials. There is no general admission fee to visit the Archives, view exhibits, or conduct research.

Yes. Families, school groups, university organizations, and community groups are welcome in the museums. Children must be supervised by an adult. Groups with children are not encouraged to visit the Reading Room because of limited space.

Yes. The museums and public exhibition spaces in the Archives building are open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and visitors during posted hours unless otherwise noted. The building is closed at weekends and in the evenings.

The Archives preserves materials documenting the history of Delta State University and the Mississippi Delta. Collections may include university records, correspondence, photographs, yearbooks, publications, manuscripts, oral histories, scrapbooks, maps, audiovisual recordings, digital materials, memorabilia, artifacts, and other historically significant materials.

Archives staff can provide basic reference assistance, identify potentially relevant collections, and help locate specific information. Because of staffing and time limitations, staff generally cannot conduct extensive research on behalf of researchers. Researchers undertaking larger projects may be encouraged to schedule an in-person visit.

Research requests may be submitted to the University Archives using the contact information or research request form provided on the Archives website. Please include your contact information, research topic, relevant names and dates, and as much detail as possible about what you are seeking.

Response times vary depending on the complexity of the request, staff availability, and the amount of research required. Simple requests may be answered quickly, while requests requiring extensive searching, digitization, or review may take longer. Archives staff will respond as soon as resources permit. A response with a potential timeline or update will be sent within two weeks of the request.

No. Most processed collections are available for research, but some materials may be restricted because of privacy, confidentiality, legal requirements, donor agreements, preservation concerns, university policies, or because they have not yet been processed.

Yes. The Archives maintain historical university publications, including yearbooks, catalogs, newsletters, newspapers, reports, programs, and other publications when available. Holdings may vary by year and publication.

Yes. In addition to documenting Delta State University, the Archives preserves selected materials related to the history, people, organizations, communities, culture, and institutions of the Mississippi Delta. With current space limitations, there is a stronger emphasis on items that have some understated connection with the University’s history.

Yes. The Archives preserves university records of enduring historical or institutional value from offices, departments, colleges, committees, programs, and administrative units. However, the collection consists of only materials that were donated from said offices and departments. That affects the scope of each records group.

No. Archival materials do not circulate and cannot be checked out like regular library materials. They must remain in the Archives and are normally used under staff supervision in the Reading Room. The materials are owned by the University and under the protection of the Archives.

Many archival materials are unique, rare, fragile, or irreplaceable. Keeping materials in a supervised research environment helps protect them from loss, damage, misfiling, and deterioration while ensuring they remain available for future researchers.

Researchers should handle materials carefully, maintain the existing order of folders and documents, use only one box or folder at a time when directed, and follow staff instructions. Materials should never be marked, folded, rearranged, traced, leaned upon, or altered in any way. Ink can permanently damage archival materials. Pencils reduce the risk of accidental marks and are therefore commonly required in archival reading rooms.

Generally, yes. Personal electronic devices may be used as long as they do not interfere with other researchers or pose a risk to archival materials. Devices should be placed so they do not rest on or damage collection materials. Personal research photography is generally permitted when the physical condition, copyright status, donor restrictions, and other applicable requirements allow it. Researchers should ask Archives staff before photographing materials.

Many materials can be scanned or copied when their condition and applicable restrictions allow. Archives staff reserve the right to decline reproduction when copying or scanning could damage an item or violate legal, contractual, privacy, or donor restrictions.

Yes. The Archives may provide digital copies when staffing, copyright, restrictions, and the condition of the materials allow. Large or complex digitization requests may require additional time or fees.

No. Food, beverages, gum, and similar items are not permitted while archival materials are being used. This protects collections from spills, stains, pests, and other damage.

Materials may be temporarily or permanently restricted because of privacy laws, confidential information, donor agreements, university policies, copyright concerns, preservation needs, or processing status. Archives staff will provide as much information as possible about access limitations.

Yes. The Archives welcomes donations that support its mission to document Delta State University and the Mississippi Delta. All potential donations are evaluated before acceptance.

The Archives may collect correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, diaries, organizational records, university-related materials, manuscripts, publications, oral histories, audiovisual recordings, digital files, memorabilia, and other materials that document Delta State or the Mississippi Delta.

The Archives may decline duplicates, materials outside its collecting scope, items in extremely poor condition, materials requiring resources beyond the Archives’ ability to preserve, items with unreasonable restrictions, or materials that do not have sufficient historical or research value. Please be aware that all donations’ physical ownership will be transferred to Delta State University.

Contact the Archives before bringing or sending materials. Provide a brief description of the materials, approximate quantity, dates, creator or owner, connection to Delta State or the Mississippi Delta, and photographs when appropriate. Please contact Archives staff before delivering or mailing materials. Advance communication allows staff to determine whether the materials fit the collecting mission and whether adequate space and resources are available.

Yes. Accepted personal or organizational donations generally require a deed of gift or similar agreement documenting the transfer of ownership.

Any proposed restrictions must be discussed with Archives staff before the donation is accepted. However, the Archives generally seeks to avoid any permanent or overly burdensome restrictions that prevent reasonable research access.

Once ownership has been legally transferred to the University through a completed deed of gift, the materials become the property of the University and generally cannot be reclaimed by the donor.

Yes. The Archives may accept born-digital records and other electronic materials when they fit the collecting mission and can be reasonably preserved and managed. Please contact staff before transferring files so an appropriate transfer method can be arranged.

No. Archives staff cannot provide monetary appraisals of donations. Donors seeking an appraisal should consult an independent qualified appraiser.

Donations may qualify as charitable contributions under applicable law, but the University Archives cannot provide tax or legal advice. Donors should consult a qualified tax professional regarding their individual circumstances and any documentation or appraisal requirements before donation.

Yes, when the materials have enduring value to the history of Delta State University or complement existing collections. Retiring employees are encouraged to contact the Archives before disposing of university-related records or personal professional papers.

University records are created or received as part of official university business and are transferred to the Archives as institutional records. Personal collections are privately owned materials donated by individuals, families, organizations, or other entities and generally require a deed of gift transferring ownership to the University.

Yes. Faculty are encouraged to incorporate the Archives into teaching and learning. Sessions can introduce students to archival research, primary sources, local history, university history, or collections related to a particular course. Students are encouraged to use primary sources for research papers, presentations, exhibits, digital projects, creative assignments, and other coursework.

Yes. Departments planning anniversaries, publications, exhibits, presentations, reunions, social media campaigns, or other special events are encouraged to contact the Archives. Advance notice is especially helpful for projects requiring extensive research or digitization.

Information about upcoming exhibits and programs may be shared through the University Archives and Library Services websites, university communications, social media, event announcements, and other campus channels.

A library primarily provides access to published information and circulating resources. An archive preserves unique or historically significant records and collections, often maintaining them permanently for research. A museum primarily collects, preserves, interprets, and exhibits objects. These roles frequently overlap, particularly in university archives and special collections.

Today’s records become tomorrow’s history. Preserving university records, photographs, publications, personal papers, artifacts, and other materials ensures that future generations can understand the people, decisions, traditions, achievements, challenges, and experiences that shaped Delta State and the Mississippi Delta.

Alumni can help by donating historically significant photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks, programs, publications, memorabilia, organizational records, audiovisual materials, and digital files. Alumni can also help identify people, places, events, and traditions represented in existing collections and share information about their experiences at Delta State.

Not necessarily. During processing, archivists may identify duplicate, damaged, unrelated, or non-historical materials that do not warrant permanent preservation. The donation agreement should explain how such materials may be handled.

Processing times vary depending on the size and condition of the collection, staffing, preservation needs, and existing processing priorities. Acceptance of a collection does not guarantee immediate processing or digitization.