The purpose and mission of the Nicholas F. Mueller J. Archives located in the Philip A. Zaffere Library is to collect, organize, preserve, and make accessible materials reflecting the history of Stevenson University and Villa Julie College.
Audience and Research Policies
Stevenson University students, staff, faculty, and administrators will be given priority in access to the collection. Other academic and non-academic researchers will be accommodated within reason. The Director of Library Services will respond to research requests within a week of the date of receipt. Appointments must be made with the Director before a researcher can visit the archives. Each researcher will fill out a user registration form and follow the policies of onsite research.
Scope
The Mueller Archives collects primary and secondary resources in multiple media formats including paper, photographic, audio, moving image, and digital. The type of records may include, but are not limited to, correspondence, minutes, reports, newsletters, pamphlets, periodicals, maps, scrapbooks, published and unpublished printed materials, photographs, audio/visual recordings, or digital content.
Format and Types of Materials
The Mueller Archives mostly includes 2D print materials such as documents, books, maps, scrapbooks, newspapers, and photographs. The Mueller Archives houses some 3D objects, but these are small and specialized collections.
Geography
The Mueller Archives collection is very narrowly focused on information pertaining directly to Stevenson University or Villa Julie College. Within reason, information pertaining to the land on which Stevenson University is located may also be considered for inclusion in the collection. The Mueller Archives will consider accepting only donations that meet these criteria.
Time Period
The Mueller Archives does not restrict its collections based on time period. The Mueller Archives may accept any donations from any time period, as long as they meet other criteria.
Acquisition and Deaccession Policy
Permanent donation of materials to the Mueller Archives is the primary method of acquisition of materials. The Director’s approval is necessary for accessioning materials into the Mueller Archives. The relevancy of the content to the scope of the collection and the condition of the materials being donated will be considered and evaluated before acceptance. Donated materials will be kept as part of the permanent collection unless deaccessioned later or unless the materials are accepted on a temporary basis by the Director.
When a donation is added to the collection, the donor will receive a letter, which will include a brief description of the donation. For legal and ethical purposes, the Mueller Archives cannot appraise or place value on any donated items. Once materials are donated to the Mueller Archives, they become the property of the Mueller Archives. Placement and use of archival materials in exhibits and displays must first receive approval of the Director. The Mueller Archives may refuse donations with these or other types of restrictions.
The Mueller Archives may loan archival materials to other repositories or institutions with the approval of the Director. Any purchase of archival books or collections will be under approval from the Director. Acquisition of both donated and purchased collections will meet the same criteria for fitting into the mission and scope of the Mueller Archives.
In order to maintain and improve the quality of the collection, materials may be deaccessioned due to irrelevance, lack of space, duplication, or irreparable condition. Deaccessioning of materials will be done only with the approval of the Director.
(Approved Feb. 2025)