MOUNT SAINT MARY'S ARCHIVES AND
DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Collection Policy
Mount Saint Mary's Archives and Department of Special Collections collects, arranges, stores, preserves, and makes available the records of the College and Seminary, its founders, faculty, supporters, and alumni, as well as the community of which it is a part. The Archives maintains the historical record of the founding, development and growth, philosophy, purposes, and significant decisions, activities, programs, and policies of the College and Seminary.
The Archives collects records documenting the activities, decisions, policies, and programs of faculty departments and administrative offices. The Archives also collects the personal papers of prominent officers, faculty, and alumni. It serves as a resource for information on the history of the College and Seminary, the local community, and practice of Catholicism in Maryland in general and northwestern Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania in particular. The Archives collects artwork and artifacts associated with the College and Seminary and its faculty, alumni, and supporters, and with the history and practice of Catholicism.
Records are defined as all recorded information regardless of format or medium. This includes, but is not limited to, paper documents, publications, posters, ephemera, microforms, photographs, audiovisual material, artifacts, textiles, and electronic records.
Reference materials are those items that are acquired and retained by the Archives for informational purposes only. These may include contemporary published sources, indices, or microform copies of resources. Archival materials are those materials that are acquired and maintained for both informational and artifactual purposes.
Items may be acquired through transfer from College and Seminary offices and departments, or by donations from individuals or organizations. Donated items will be accepted for the collection provided the following conditions are met:
the items are relevant to and consistent with the mission and activities of the Archives, and
the Archives is able to provide the storage, security, and preservation of the items under consideration in a manner that ensures their availability for research and use, in accordance with generally accepted professional standards for Archives.
Mount Saint Mary=s Archives and Department of Special Collections actively pursues the acquisition of:
The recorded documentation, in paper, microform, electronic, audiovisual, or any other format and medium, of the actions, decisions, policies, and programs of the College and Seminary. This includes governing bodies, officers, committees, faculty departments, and administrative office records.
Substantial publications, reports, and audiovisual items created by the College for documentation and distribution, including web site records.
Memorabilia and artifacts holding special commemorative or documentary significance for the College and Seminary, and its faculty and alumni.
Personal papers of and books written by faculty, staff, and alumni.
Personal papers of prominent supporters.
Religious artwork and artifacts of significance or related to the history of the College and Seminary.
Artwork created by alumni, faculty, and staff, or local residents and artists with a significant relationship with the College and Seminary.
Items documenting the activities and accomplishments of the alumni and faculty.
In order to meet information needs adequately and to place the historic records into proper context, the Archives also collects in the following areas:
Local history and genealogy, in particular, northern Frederick County, Maryland, and southern Adams County, Pennsylvania.
Works of significance on American Catholic theology, ethics, and philosophy published more than 75 years ago.
The history and practice of Catholicism in western Maryland and south-central Pennsylvania.
Significant works on the history and practice of Catholicism in Maryland published more than 75 years ago.
Significant works on the history and practice of American Catholicism published more than 75 years ago.