Library

In order to protect and maintain the unique and irreplaceable documents and items in the Social and Historical Muskingum University Archives, the following policies are in place:

Requests to access materials in the collection must be made to the Director of the Library, Dr. Nainsí Houston, who can be reached via email (nhouston@muskingum.edu) or by phone (740.826.8260). The archives are available limited hours and by appointment only.

Items in the archive will be made available to the general public at no charge upon request, excluding any collections which have been noted with limited access considerations. Items must be requested using the Finding Aid, the link to which is located below. Archive staff are responsible for retrieving and returning archival collections.

One box will be available for use at a time, under the supervision of an archive staff member.

Users of archival items must adhere to the following:

• Archival materials must be viewed within a designated location in the library.
  • Food and drink can be neither consumed nor available in this area.
  • Only pencils or mechanical pencils allowed in this area.
  • Items must be kept in original order.
• Coats, jackets, backpacks, and purses cannot be brought into the designated location.
  • The library will provide a secure location for storing these items.
• Before using archival items, hands must be thoroughly washed and dried.
• If appropriate, clean cotton or nitrile gloves will be provided and must be used.
• Archival items will not be permitted to leave the Muskingum University Smith Library.
• Users of archival items should ask library or archive staff for aid in copying archival documents and photos.
• Photos or copies for personal or research purposes is acceptable.
• Photos or copies for commercial reproduction (for instance as an illustration in an article or book) must be cleared with the Library Director.

Archive staff will determine the feasibility of scanning, copying, or photographing any items, and will determine if it can be done by the user of archival materials or must be done by an archive staff member.

• Photocopies
  • User of archival materials: 7 cents per side
  • Archive Staff: 27 cents per side
• Scanning
  • User of archival materials: No charge
  • Archive Staff: 20 cents per side
• Digital photos (no flash use)
  • User of archival materials: No charge
  • Archive Staff: 50 cents per image (shared via a folder using OneDrive or Sharepoint)

Price will be determined based on Post Office charge based on weight. $3 fee added to Post Office charge, which includes shipping container and handling fees.

All fees can be paid via cash or check at the Welcome Center or via credit card at the Business Office.

The following is the Finding Aid for the Social and Historical Muskingum University Archive, which contains records and artifacts that pertain to the university’s history, dating back to its founding in 1837. University archival materials reflect periods from the Civil War, Great Depression, both World Wars through to the present day, including artifacts from two of Muskingum University’s famous alumni, Senator and Astronaut John Glenn ‘42 and Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning actress Agnes Moorehead ‘23.

The Social and Historical Muskingum University Archive also preserves the history of early Appalachian Ohio through diaries and other ephemera, genealogy, and the history of the Presbyterian Church and other Presbyterian colleges in Ohio.

Requests to access materials in the collection must be made to the Director of the Library, Dr. Nainsí Houston, who can be reached via email (nhouston@muskingum.edu) or by phone (740.826.8260). While in-person requests are accepted, the archives are available limited hours and by appointment only.

• Social and Historical Muskingum University Archive