Archives Resources

The collections of the Luther College Archives can be accessed in the Reading Room, located on the Upper Floor of Preus Library.

To prepare for your visit to the College Archives, you should know the following:

• How to schedule an appointment
• The Archives' Use Policy, which instructs how materials should be handled in the Reading Room
• Tips for conducting archival research.

The College Archives are open year-round for research appointments. All are welcome to schedule a research visit to view collections in the Reading Room.

Appointments can be made between 8:30am and 4:30pm Mondays through Fridays. The Archives is generally closed on the weekends except in special circumstances. Availability of appointments will depend on staff schedules. Please reach out at least 24 hours in advance to make your appointment so staff have time to prepare for your visit.

To make an appointment:

 Call 563-387-1805

 Email archives@luther.edu

Every action in the Luther College Archives revolves around preserving the Luther College memory, which means patrons accessing any of the original materials in the collection must use special care and abide by a few basic rules.

• Research in the Reading Room: Materials are brought to the researcher to use in the Archives reading room on the third floor of Preus Library. Materials may not leave the room.
• Store personal items: Brief cases, backpacks and portfolios must be stored in the researchers coat rack in the Archives Reading Room.
• No food, drink, or gum: This is designed to help preserve the collections. Spills can irreparably damage documents or require costly repairs by a conservator. The presence of food may also attract insects or rodents that infest archival materials.
• Use of pencil only: This is a preservation practice in case accidental marks are made on archival materials; pencil can be erased while pen marks cannot. Electrical outlets are supplied for laptop computers.
• Reproduction: A photocopier/scanner is available in the Archives Reading Room. It is up to the discretion of the Archives staff to decide what may and may not be safely reproduced. If your research will result in a publication, please see the Archivist for the proper citation giving credit to the Luther College Archives. Before publication please consult the Archivist about any copyright restrictions.
• Use of nitrile gloves: In most cases clean hands free of lotions or perfumes are sufficient for handling materials. Gloves may be necessary for handling objects or photographs in order to protect the materials from the oils and other residues left by hands.
• Handling materials in order: It is important that materials remain in the same order in a box. Misfiling or changes in order can lead the archival staff to assume that items are missing and inconvenience future researchers. For this reason, patrons may only work on one open box at a time and be mindful of the correct order of folders. Outcards to mark your place within a box are provided.

All visitors are required to abide by these guidelines. Please reach out to the College Archivist Librarian with questions.

Archival research can be very different from library research. These are some tips for a successful visit.

• Ask questions if you have them! The College Archivist Librarian and student assistants know a fair amount about the collections are are happy to answer questions you may have.
• Take your time! Archival research often takes longer than it may seem, so give yourself enough time to go through material. Staff can hold the boxes for you if you need to schedule follow-up visits. 
• Take thorough citations while working. This will allow staff to be able to retrieve the material you were working with if you need to return for a follow-up visit.