The University Archives is the place to learn about Penn history and to do research on primary source materials relating to the University.
Founded in 1945 as the University’s official permanent repository for historically significant documents and other materials that reflect the University’s origins as well as the development and the activities and achievements of its officers, staff, faculty, students, alumni, and benefactors. University Archives holdings deal with history of the University of Pennsylvania and of prominent persons associated with the University and also with the history of institutions of higher learning in the United States, American intellectual life, and the Philadelphia community in which the University lives.
The University Archives strives to ensure the timeless preservation of these historically significant materials and to make these materials available to researchers. The University Archives is open to the University community and the scholarly public.
