The Oregon State University Archives was established in 1961
to collect, describe, display, and preserve the organized body
of permanent records created or received in connection with the
transaction of University affairs.
Oregon Administrative Rules, Chapter 166, stipulates that archives
of the institutions of the Oregon State System of Higher Education
may "add records of private origin which relate to the history
of the institution, its faculty and students, or to academic or
research interests of their communities."
Collections and manuscripts are selected for preservation in the
Oregon State University Archives primarily because of their historical
research value. Materials accessioned will generally document
the history of Oregon State University, its community, and activities.
Historical collections and manuscripts accessioned by the Oregon
State University Archives may include memorabilia, records, printed
documents, photographic images, maps, graphic materials, and other
historically significant materials in other physical forms. The
historical resources of the University Archives are available
for public use on the premises during regular business hours,
unless otherwise specified in the donor agreement.
Unless otherwise restricted by copyright or by the donor and agreed
to by the Oregon State University Archives at the time of acquisition,
all literary rights are conveyed to the Oregon State University
Archives. All donor access and use restrictions and conditions
will be specified in the donation agreement. The Archives can
assume no responsibility for abuse of literary or copyright restrictions
by users of research materials.
Gifts to the University Archives are considered outright donations
to be used in the best interest of the Oregon State University
Archives. Donations become the sole and irrevocable property of
the University Archives.
Usually, accepted gifts are considered extremely important or
the best historical resources available at the time acquired.
However, no individual or institution can predict or govern the
changing attitudes of future generations, nor guarantee permancy
beyond the best available preservation procedures. The Archives
reserves the right to reevaluate and reappraise historical material
in its holdings and to deaccesion them when appropriate. Deaccessioned
collections and items weeded from collections during processing,
due to duplication, irrelevance, limited use, or deterioration,
will be offered to the original donor or his agent if so requested
at the time of donation. If the donor wishes not to reclaim the
material or can not be located, the University Archives reserves
the right to offer the material to other depositories or discard
the items. Any material declared expendable must be approved by
the University Archivist.
Donations of historical material to a public research facility
may be tax deductible. However, the Oregon State University Archives
can not appraise donations for tax purposes. For the protection
of the donor, it is recommended that such appraisals be done by
a disinterested third party and before title to the material is
conveyed to the Oregon State University Archives.
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