Institute Archives
The collections of the Institute Archives detail the activities of MIT and the members of its community. For information on access to the Institute Archives, see our Statement on Accessing Institute Records.
Note: Please see the Manuscripts collection for the personal archives of MIT faculty members and alumni.
1856 letter addressed to MIT’s Professor William B. Rogers. Distinctive Collections, MIT Libraries.
Government and administration
The administrative history of MIT offers critical insight into how MIT has evolved over time in response to internal forces at the Institute, as well as external changes and trends. This history is captured in the records of MIT presidents, provosts, and other offices responsible for the governance and management of MIT. The collections also include the records of the MIT Corporation (MIT’s board of trustees).
Collection highlights:
- Office of the President, records of Julius A. Stratton
- Office of the President, records of Special Assistant to the President Mary Rowe
- Office of the Chairman of the Corporation, records of Karl T. Compton
Academic and research units
MIT is comprised of a wide variety of academic and research units, which are referred to as departments, labs, and centers (DLCs). DLCs include the individual academic departments within MIT’s six schools, as well as interdisciplinary labs, centers, and programs.
Collection highlights:
- Center for International Studies records
- School of Engineering, Office of the Dean records
- Program in Science, Technology, and Society records
Student and community organizations
The records of the many important student and community organizations make up a growing portion of the Institute Archives collections. The organizations include fraternities and sororities, ethnic and cultural associations, and clubs whose members share common interests or hobbies.
Collection highlights:
- Social Action Coordinating Committee records
- Society of Women Engineers, records of the MIT section (MITSWE)
- Women’s League records
Institute publications
The Institute Archives also includes publications produced by MIT and its faculty and students, including yearbooks, theses and dissertations, technical reports, and more.