Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1981-2008 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
74 cm of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
As early as 1977, there was an ad hoc committee on University Archives which proposed to appoint the retiring Chief Librarian as the first university archivist. This proposal was not realised. In March of 1977, it was agreed to be essential that the University Archives have a reporting and budget operation independent of the University Library.
On December 17, 1981, the Board of Governors ruled that "destruction of university documents requires prior written approval of the appropriate university officer and the University Archivist." This gave the Archives the responsibility for creating retention rules for university records; however, the Information Management Program would not be approved and begin activities until 1996.
Early in 1982, the Director of Libraries was appointed the Coordinator of the University Archives. In November of that year, the Archives program was established and began operations. Jean Tener, the literary archivist employed in the University Library's Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, became the first University Archivist in December of 1983 after completing the National Archives summer training school.
The University Archivist reported directly to the Chief Librarian for a short period after the position was created. In 1983, the University Archives became a separate administrative unit with the Archivist reporting to the Director of Information Services who also held the title Director of Libraries. In 2000, when Information Services split into Information Resources, Information Technologies and the Learning Commons, the University Archivist began reporting to the Director of Information Resources. Information Resources included the Library, the University Archives, the Image Centre, and the University Press. The Nickle Arts Museum became a part of the unit a short time later.
Jo-Ann Munn Gafuik took over the responsibilities of the University Archivist when Jean Tener retired in 1992. With the anticipation of freedom of information legislation, President Murray Fraser approved the Information Management Program in 1996. This program proposed to manage active records through the development of a uniform classification system, records scheduling, and the automation of the program. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) was proclaimed for all post-secondary institutions in 1999 and the University Archivist, Jo-Ann Munn Gafuik, took on the role of the Information and Privacy Coordinator for the University of Calgary.
In 2003, Information Resources created a new department, Archives and Special Collections, which brought together all those units holding primary resources under a new Assistant Director. University Archives, along with units which had formerly been a part of the Library -- Special Collections, Canadian Architectural Archives, and the Museum of the Regiments Archives and Library -- formed the new department. Teresa Reilly was appointed the first Assistant Director and reported to the Director of Information Resources. In 2006, Information Resources became Libraries and Cultural Resources led by the Vice-Provost (Libraries and Cultural Resources) and University Librarian.
John Cole served as Interim Director Archives and Special Collections from 2008 to 2010, when John Wright was appointed Director of the Centre for Arts and Culture, the body given responsibility for Archives and Special Collections, the Nickle Arts Museum, Visual and Performing Arts, and the Military Museums Library and Archives. In 2014, Archives and Special Collections gained its own director once again when Annie Murray was appointed Head of Archives and Special Collections. In 2015, her title was changed to Associate University Librarian for Archives and Special Collections.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of administrative records of the University Archives including the FOIP "In Balance" newsletter produced by the University Archives (1998-2002). Also consists of a series of books donated by authors who used archival sources.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Administrative records are restricted for a period of 15 years as authorized under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
University of Calgary Corporate Records