Online Resources in the Archival Search Portal
Filtering For Digital Objects
One of the facets in the archival search portal allows researchers to filter results by "Digital Content." This broad term includes not only materials that have been digitized but also born-digital materials such as emails, word processing files, PDFs, and websites. Please note that born-digital materials, except for websites, can only be acessed in the reading room, but digitized materials may be available via our finding aids.
To view items that are available via our finding aids, click on the "Container List" on the left side of the page. You may also need to click on individual series to view items. There will be a link that says "click to view" if there are digital objects available. The object will open in a separate image viewer where you can zoom in and out on high-resolution images of each item.
Remember, each of these digitized items correspond to a physical object. Keep in mind questions like "What does the digital image capture?" "What does it leave out?" Digitization is great for expanding access to our collections, but there is a trade-off that you should consider when conducting research.
NYU Special Collections Archival Search PortalUse this search portal to look for archival materials in NYU Special Collections, which includes the Fales Library and Special Collections, Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, and the New York University Archives. You can also search for materials at the Poly Archives, NYU Abu Dhabi, New-York Historical Society, and the Center for Brooklyn History.
Web Archives
As part of our committment to the historical record, NYU Special Collections aims to collect material that documents the ways we share information with one another in all formats, including websites. You can access archived web pages via the finding aids for a particular collection or you can visit our Archive-It Page and use the filters and search bar to look for specific sites. You can filter for University Archives material only on both the archival search portal and the Archive-It Page.
Web archives are not just screenshots of websites; you can interact with the page as if it were an active website. You are viewing the site as it appeared on the day it was captured. That being said, some elements of the page may not have been fully captured, like media or links to external sites that we do not archive.
NYU Special Collections Web ArchivesBesides looking through the search portal, you can also look at NYU's web archives via our Archive-It page. Start by clicking on the tab "Search Page Text" and then enter your terms. Use the facets on the side to narrow and expand your search.
Photographs Collections
Several photographs collections in the University Archives have been either partially or entirely digitized and are available for viewing online. They are the
New York University Archives Photographs Collection (PHOTOS.00001) Finding AidThe collection contains photographs that document the history of New York University and it surrounding environs, especially Washington Square Park and Greenwich Village. It includes images associated with NYU's various component schools and its former University Heights campus (now Bronx Community College).
Historic Photographs and Drawings Collection (Photo.002) Finding AidThis collection contains photographs, drawings, glass plate negatives, and other documentary materials depicting student life and activities, campus architecture, city maps, faculty portraits, and other aspects of NYU culture from 1800-1980.
Sailors' Snug Harbor Image Collection (MC.218) Finding AidThe Sailors' Snug Harbor was created in 1801 as a charity for the support of aged sailors. The collection contains 98 glass plate negatives of property holdings of the Sailors' Snug Harbor within the area bounded by Fifth Avenue, 9th and 10th Streets, Fourth Avenue, Astor Place, 8th Street, University Place, and Washington Square North. The images date from the late 1800s, possibly into the early 1900s.
Click on each of the links to the finding aid and then click on "container list" on the left side of the page to view the digitized photographs.
Hathi Trust
Some (primarily 19th-century) University publications have been digitized by other institutions and are available via HathiTrust. A non-exhaustive list of these materials is below:
NYU CatalogueThe NYU Catalogue includes general University information, such as lists of members of the University Council and graduation lists, faculty lists, degree requirements, and course descriptions for each school. Full views are available on Hathi Trust from 1839-1927. Search only views are also available for 1928-1949.
Directory of alumni of Department of Arts and S cience: 1833-1892This alumni directory is available in its full view and contains information about graduates of NYU. A committee put together this directory and the information about where people were living was opt-in, so the list is not complete.
General alumni catalogue: 1916This alumni directory is available in its full view and contains information about graduates of NYU. A committee put together this directorym building on the work of previous alumni committees. The information about where people were living was opt-in, so the list is not complete.
The Triangle: New York UniversityUndergraduate weekly student newspaper for the Univeristy Heights campus at NYU. Previously, this paper was called the University Item and is described as "a weekly journal devoted to the interests of the Faculty, students, and alumni of New York University." Full views of issues from 1897-1906 are available.
The New Yorker: The New York University WeeklyUndergraduate weekly student newspaper. It was previously called the Triangle, and is described as "A weekly journal devoted to the interests of the students and alumni of New York University." Full view of issues from 1907-1908 are available.
The New York University AlumnusMonthly publication (except June-September) for New York University Alumni, which replaced the Alumni News. Included are announcements, ads, photographs of alumni, and short essays about notable alumni. Full view is available for issues from October 1920-May 1922.
NYU HistoriesThe complete title of this two volume work is New York University: Its History, Influence, Equipment and Characteristics with Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Founders, Benefactors, Officers and Alumni. The full text of both volumes of this 1901 history are available from several institutions.
Reports of Officers to the ChancellorAnnual reports from Academic Year 1914-18 and Academic Year 1920-22, available as a full view. These reports include general overviews of the state of the university, treasurer reports, and reports from various deans.
Report of the ChancellorAnnual reports from Academic Years 1897-1901 and 1907-1913, available as full view, and Acaademic Years 1941 and 1952, available as search only. These reports include general overviews of the state of the university, treasurer reports, and reports from various deans.
Annual Reports of New York UniversityAnnual reports from Academic Yearsk 1911-1916, available as a full view. These reports include general overviews of the state of the university, treasurer reports, and reports from various deans.
Report of OfficersAnnual reports from Academic Years 1909-1927, available as a full view, and Academic Years 1928-1951 available as search only. These reports include general overviews of the state of the university, treasurer reports, and reports from various deans.
You can also search for University publications using the general search tool. Keep in mind that documents that are fully available online (not just searchable) are typically those in the public domain (i.e., those that have been published in or before 1927).
Why Isn't Everything Available Online?
Great question! The University Archives collection is made up of millions of items in thousands of boxes in hundreds of collections. Digitization projects take a great deal of personnel, time, resources, and money to complete, and the end product requires a lot of resources to maintain. Archivists, curators, librarians, conservators, and other staff in NYU Libraries work together to make informed decisions about which items should be digitized. Factors like physical condition, level of use, subject matter, donor requests, and grant opportunities get taken into consideration during the decision making process. Even though all items aren't available online, we endeavor to provide access to materials in the reading room whenever possible. Please see our page on accessing material for more information.
