Research

Archives and Special Collections preserves, promotes, and provides access to the recorded academic and cultural heritage of the University of Regina.

Our archival collection consists of original materials relating to the University, its faculty, staff, and students, dating from the inception of Regina College in 1911 to the present day. This includes theses written and defended since the establishment of graduate programs in 1966. In addition, we collect private papers, particularly in the visual arts, journalism, and Saskatchewan literature.

Archives and Special Collections maintains oURspace, the open access institutional repository of the University of Regina. oURspace provides faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to present their research in a broad digital form.

Special Collections consists of published materials that are rare, valuable, or have particular cultural and historical importance. The subject coverage of this collection is broad but areas such as western Canadian and Saskatchewan history, are emphasized. For further information about Special Collections, please contact Michael Shires, 306.585.5418 or Michael Shires@uregina.ca.

Archives and Special Collections is also mandated to advise and assist University units in the management of their records from the time of creation through to disposition.

First-time archives users frequently experience something of a culture shock as they struggle to adapt to new concepts and procedures. Their expectations of what an archives should be are based on their experience of libraries. Most of us tend to equate the two, but there are significant differences between them.

Note: It is important to keep track of your sources while doing research in the archives, as trying to locate a specific document later, in order to cite it properly, is difficult. Keep good source notes during your research. Even the archivists responsible for the fonds or collections may not easily be able to find the individual letter or document you need to cite, and the process to try to find it could be quite time-consuming.

Because archival materials are unique, they can only be found in one institution. Archival citations therefore begin with the institution, then the fonds or collection, then the accession number, then the individual file and the specific item.

Similarly, each fonds or collection itself is unique. Archival descriptions will always reflect that: arrangement of archival fonds or collections is based on the principle of provenance and original order. Each description will reflect the system by which the materials were originally used and created (if such a system was in place). If no original order is evident, then an order may be imposed by the archivist. The criteria used for any imposed arrangement can also vary, and might be based on functions, subjects, etc., as appropriate.

Archives & Special Collections staff are happy to assist you with your research and program inquiries. Please direct general questions to the following:

By Email: archives@uregina.ca
By Phone: 306-585-4014
In Person: Dr. John Archer Library, Room 107.4  see hours

By Mail:
Archives and Special Collections
Dr. John Archer Library Building
University of Regina Library, Room 107.4
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
S4S 0A2