Search Finding Aids to Locate Primary Resources
The Eastern Kentucky University Library's Research Center for Special Collections and Archives is the official repository for Eastern Kentucky University’s permanent records and also preserves personal, organizational, business, historical, and genealogical materials documenting the history and culture of the people of southeastern Kentucky. Established in 1976, the Archives maintains a growing body of manuscripts, special collections, and oral histories that reflect the region’s diverse history. Books and other published materials can be found in the library catalog.
Please note that not all collections have been processed, and new finding aids are added regularly. If you do not find what you are looking for or have questions about our holdings, please contact us at archives.library@eku.edu.
For information about in-person access or requesting records, see the Visitor Information page.
Harmful Content and Descriptive Language Statement
Our collections include materials created across many time periods, cultures, and communities. Because these materials reflect the beliefs, practices, and language of their creators, you may encounter content or descriptions that are outdated, biased, or harmful, including language that is racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, ableist, or otherwise derogatory. While such content does not reflect our values, we preserve it to maintain the historical record and to provide insight into the social, cultural, and political contexts in which these materials were produced.
We are committed to creating respectful, inclusive, and accurate descriptions of the people and communities represented in our holdings. Description is not neutral, and we recognize that our descriptive practices—both past and present—may contain language that causes harm or fails to fully acknowledge the humanity of those documented in the collections. We continually review, revise, and contextualize our descriptive work as standards, vocabularies, and community perspectives evolve.
Some harmful language may be intentionally retained when it appears in original materials, titles, quotations, organizational names, or creator-supplied description, as this information is part of the historical context. In other cases, harmful or euphemistic language created by staff may be updated, supplemented, or replaced. We also use national descriptive standards and subject vocabularies that may contain outdated or offensive terminology, and we are actively working to address these issues.
Your feedback is essential to this ongoing work. If you encounter language or content in our descriptive records, digital collections, or finding aids that you believe is harmful, inappropriate, or in need of review, please contact us so we can evaluate and improve our description. archives.library@eku.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a finding aid?
A finding aid is a descriptive guide to an archival collection. It provides information about who created the materials, the historical context, the types of materials included, and how the collection is arranged. Finding aids help researchers understand and locate relevant primary sources.
How do I use this site?
Use the search bar to perform keyword searches across all collections. You can refine your search using filters, date ranges, or the “Additional filters” that appear beside your results. You may also browse by collection title, subject, or personal/organizational name using the tabs at the top of the page.
Do all collections have finding aids?
Not yet. Many materials are still being processed, and new finding aids are added continuously. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us for assistance.
What types of materials are included in the collections?
Collections may include university records, manuscripts, business papers, organizational records, photographs, letters, scrapbooks, audiovisual recordings, and other materials that document Eastern Kentucky’s history and its people.
Why might I encounter harmful or offensive language?
Some language appears in original historical documents, creator-supplied titles, or older staff descriptions. We retain original terminology when it is necessary for historical accuracy, but we work to update or contextualize harmful language in our own descriptive work. If you find problematic language, please let us know.
Who do I contact for help or more information?
For questions about collections, finding aids, or descriptive concerns, email archives.library@eku.edu.
For digital collections, hours, and additional information, visit the Research Center for Special Collections and Archives homepage.