Classroom Orientations

The staff is pleased to work with instructors to have their classes use Archives' materials in their course work. Orientation sessions introduce students to University Archives procedures and give an overview of our resources.  For more specialized class sessions we work closely with faculty and instructors to identify and assemble materials for hands-on examination in a classroom setting.

Orientation sessions provide general introductory information and a survey of our holdings including a discussion of University history, major collections and other primary source materials. Registration, proper handling of materials, research techniques, intellectual property principles, duplication fees, and feasible time lines are highlighted.  Basic search strategies and tools, and useful tips to help students find materials and make the most of the University Archives rich resources are also included. Sessions can be tailored to include specific topics and other information as needed. We are also happy to partner with our colleagues in the Archives and Special Collections divisions in the Andersen Library to hold joint sessions to introduce students to primary and secondary sources.

Archivists can also give informational seminars intended for a group of graduate teaching assistants or departmental faculty and staff who wish to incorporate primary source materials in the Archives into their course work. These can be arranged to incorporate specific topics desired by the group

Requesting a session

Staff can give a presentation in your classroom, or classes can be held on-site in the Elmer Andersen Libraries conference suites. The suites can easily accommodate groups of 10 to 60 people. Contact the Archives at least two weeks in advance to schedule a session. Please provide your contact information, the proposed date and time of your visit, number of students, and background about your class. Our collections are open to all students, not just those from the University of Minnesota.