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University Archives & Special Collections

The University Archives and Special Collections is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, by appointment only.

Special Collections

Special Collections contains rare and unique books as well as documents, photographs, and objects on various national and international topics and events. The Special Collections section has numerous materials on events such as the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II, as well as general topics such as American politics, business and industry, and space exploration. Many of the items in this collection contain primary sources collected by historians and others with an interest in preserving and sharing history.

Featured Collections:

  • Henry Peckinpaugh Collection
  • William Sonntag Collection
  • Lee William Jones Collection

For more information about materials in this collection, check out our Finding Aids.

Regional History contains books, documents, photographs, and objects on various topics and events that focus primarily on Indiana and the Midwest region. The Regional History section has numerous materials on local topics such as early Evansville government records, businesses, both active and historic, in and around Evansville, as well as local communities and groups such as the African-American and Jewish communities in Evansville. This section also has topics about the Midwest region, such as the flood of 1937, education, and politics. Many of the items in the collection contain primary sources collected by historians and others with an interest in preserving and sharing history. As a part of this area, Regional History also contains over 500 oral histories from community members on a range of topics and interests.

Featured collections:

  • Hammond-Awe Collection
  • Mead Johnson Collection
  • Charles Rochelle Collection

For more information about materials in this collection, check out our Finding Aids.


Oral History Collection

The Oral History Collection consists of audio and video interviews with residents of Evansville, Indiana and the tri-state area about their lives and experiences during the 19th and 20th centuries.  Topics include global conflicts such as World War II and the Korean War, as well as the local impact of events as the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement.  Other interviews explore themes such as the Ku Klux Klan, local history, education, as well as many others.

For more information about materials in this collection, check out our Oral History Gallery.

An example is show below of how to cite materials from the University Archives and Special Collections using the Chicago Manual Style. If there are any questions, notify the University Archives and Special Collections staff by emailing at: archives.rice@usi.edu.

Collection Title. Collection, Box, and Folder Numbers. Source, Location, Date.

     Bibliography examples for using a collection

  • Format: Id Number and name of collection. Description of Item. Repository, Institution, location (city).
  • MSS 297 Beardsley, Montgomery, Gordon Family Collection. Clothing. University Archives and Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville.
  • UA 049 Faculty Senate. Papers. University Archives and Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville.
  • MSS 228 Sonny Brown Collection. Photograph. University Archives and Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville. https://digitalarchives.usi.edu/digital/collection/S_Brown .
    • Note: the bibliography is the url for the entire collection

    Note for using a one item(s) in a collection

  • Format: Item number and title/author, ID number and description. Collection Name. Repository, Institution.
  • MSS 297-1-14 Black Cloth Mitts. 1900, Beardsley, Montgomery, Gordon Family Collection. University Archives and Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana.
  • UA 049-1-1 Faculty Minutes and Agenda. 1979-1980, University Archives and Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana. 
  • MSS 228-0183 Roller skating nun in Evansville, Indiana. MSS 228 Sonny Brown Collection. University Archives and Special Collections, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville. https://digitalarchives.usi.edu/digital/collection/S_Brown/id/7760/rec/1 .
    • Note: The note url is for the specific online item