University Archives

Yearbooks, annuals, class directories, and annual journals published by the Cal Poly student body annually. Published as The Polytechnic Journal between 1906-1927 and El Rodeo between 1927-1990. No annuals were published between 1943-1945. Yearbooks provide student/faculty directories, along with recaps of yearly events. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c89310cn/

Records created by the Office of the President and Office of the Director between 1901 and 1924 relating to university operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development, including campus life and commencement. Records include correspondence, meeting minutes, speeches, publications, audio/visual materials, and objects. Includes the papers of Director Leroy Anderson (1902-1907), Director Leroy Burns Smith (1908-1914), Robert Weir Ryder (1914-1921), and Nicholas Ricciardi (1921-1924).

Student and student-press produced newspapers, journals, magazines, and newsletters. Includes The Polygram (1916-1932), The Polytechnic Californian (1940), El Mustang (1938-1939, 1941-1942, 1946-1967), Mustang Daily (1967-2013), and Mustang News (2013- ), monthly Polytechnic Journals (1906-1912), Mustang RoundUp (1942-1948), and The Alternative (1986-1987). Not produced between 1933-1937 and 1943-1945. Newspapers cover local and international events from the perspective of Cal Poly students. A more comprehensive collection of the student newspapers and a finding aid can be found at https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/studentnewspaper/ and https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8mc94qc/

Records created by the Office of the President during the term of President Benjamin R. Crandall (1924-1933) relating to university operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development, including campus life and commencement. Records include correspondence, meeting minutes, speeches, publications, audio/visual materials, and objects.

Records related to the administration and programming of KCPR student radio station. Includes manuscript, analog, and digital records.

Records created by the Office of the President during the term of President Robert E. Kennedy (1967-1979) relating to university operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development, including campus life and commencement. Records include correspondence, meeting minutes, speeches, publications, audio/visual materials, and objects.

Records created by the Office of the President during the 30-year term of President Dr. Warren J. Baker (1979-2010) relating to university operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development, including campus life and commencement. Records include correspondence, meeting minutes, photographs, speeches, publications, and audio/visual materials. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8xg9wx0/.

Records created by the Office of the President during the term of President Julian A. McPhee (1933-1966) relating to university operations, administration, promotion, international relations, and development, including campus life and commencement. Records include correspondence, meeting minutes, speeches, publications, audio/visual materials, and objects.

Records created or collected by the office of the president but not specific to one president (i.e. annual reports, committee reports, etc.).

Records relating to the administration, marketing, and program management of the Athletics department including sports schedules, programs, photographs, and team data, as well as records related to Title IX. Collection is unprocessed and requires advance notice for research access. Related photographs can be found in the UA0099 University Archives Photograph Collection. Limited finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8t72q18/

Records and photographs related to the administration, accreditation, and marketing of the Orfalea College of Business, formerly the Department of Business Administration. Includes department meeting minutes, business magazines, and miscellaneous faculty information. Records date between 1960 and 2008. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8v98dsp/admin/

Photographs and documents related to the development, programs, and curriculum of the College of Engineering. Includes memorabilia, projects, and excerpts, along with personal materials of engineer Enrico Bongio. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8jw8m0x/admin/

Photographs and documents related to the development, programs, and curriculum of the College of Liberal Arts.

Records of the administration and programs of the campus library.

Records and photographic images related to the development, administration, and curriculum of the Horticulture and Crop Science Department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Includes the records of Professor Virginia Walter, former Interim Head of Environmental Horticultural Science (retired); the records of the Pi Alpha Xi honorary society Upsilon Chapter at Cal Poly; the Floral Design Team; program planning and activities; and curriculum and course content. Includes information for department previously known as Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Gardening. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8bc44pj/admin/

Records of the student government at Cal Poly, established in 1940 and incorporated as Associated Students, Inc. in 1964.

Includes records, photographs, research documents, and academic fraternity Pi Alpha Xi materials.

Photographs and documents related to the buildings, programs, and policies of University Housing, as well as documentation related to student life within the dorms and other University Housing buildings.

Records and publications relating to the Alumni Association, its operations, its members, and its predecessor organizations the Alumni Office and Alumni Services.

Records related to the preparation, promotions, and events of Poly Royal and Poly Royal Rodeo.

Records related to the development and administration of the International Center (formerly the Office of International Education and Programs) at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, including the records of inaugural director Jon M. Ericson, and the Peace Corps Program records containing the letters and reports of Robert E. McCorkle, retired professor and former Director of International Education and Programs. Records date between 1959 and 1990. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8v410wp/admin/

Records of the U.S. Naval Flight Preparatory School which operated on the Cal Poly campus in 1943-44, and which trained over 3,600 cadets.

Records created by the Graphic Communications Department, College of Liberal Arts.

Records of the operational ranch in Davenport, CA, donated to Cal Poly by Al Smith in 1993 as an educational and research facility for Cal Poly's faculty and students.

Records of the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. Includes documentation of commencement proceedings.

Records of CTLT, which was established in summer 2012 in a reorganization involving the former Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and Academic Technology. The CTL was established in 2001, while Academic Technology had been created in spring 2012 as a unit of Information Services. The reorganization merged the CTL's operations and staff with Academic Technology to create CTLT.

Documents, photographs, newspapers, and exhibit content related to the Journalism Department, College of Liberal Arts. Includes The Polytechnic Journal, department information, and reports on the 1960 Cal Poly football team plane crash. Records date between 1906 and 2005. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8vx0n7k/admin/

Records created by the Experience Industry Management Department, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Also includes records of the department's predecessor the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration Department.

Records created by the Office of Academic Programs and Planning, as well as its predecessor Office of Academic Planning and Instruction. Includes records of commencement and related activities once administered by this office.

Records created by the Construction Management Department, College of Architecture and Environmental Design.

Documents related to the development and activities of the Pride Center and the former Gay Student Union. Includes flyers, meeting minutes, newspaper clippings, event information, and other documents related to the creation of GSU. Alternatively known as Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals United (GLBU). Records date between 1972-2018. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8tb1dcp/admin/

Publications from the Office of the Registrar which provide descriptions of colleges, departments, degree programs, and course offerings, among other information about the university. From 1905 - 1983, the catalog was published as a special issue of Cal Poly's circulars, bulletins, or announcements service.

Documents related to the activities, operations, and events of fraternities, sororities, and the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. The different fraternities and sororities are governed by three councils: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC), and the Panhellenic Council (PHA). Currently contains only records from the Chi Sigma Phi fraternity, established 1948. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8154nv4/admin/.

Records of the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion, which leads efforts to build diversity and promote inclusion and aligns university-wide efforts in order to achieve inclusive excellence; attract and respond to a diverse campus community; and nurture a respectful and inclusive campus climate. The office was established in 2010 as the Office of University Diversity and Inclusivity.

Records created by the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department, College of Engineering. Also includes records of the department's predecessor, the Computer Science Department.

Records from Cal Poly's participation in the Agricultural Research Institute, a six-campus group of CSU universities with agricultural research programs.

This collection includes the records of both the organization Cal Poly Arts and the Performing Arts Center venue. Cal Poly Arts was founded in 1985, and the Performing Arts Center (which hosts Cal Poly Arts programming) opened its doors in 1996.

Objects created for promotional or ceremonial purposes or as memorabilia; objects used in daily operations. Includes diplomas, class, rings, and other related items from alumni. From 2017 forward, such items will be retained in the collections through which they were received, rather than being added to this collection.

Records created or collected by the nonprofit auxiliary organization Cal Poly Corporation, which operates independently of the university, while simultaneously supporting the university's educational mission. Formerly Cal Poly Foundation. Includes the El Corral bookstore and University Bookstore.

Records created by Information Technology Services (ITS), its predecessor unit Information Systems, and other units organized within them. In 1982, the first Associate Vice Provost for Information Systems was hired, and the position's responsibilities included oversight of the Computer Center, the Audiovisual Department, the Computer Aided Productivity Laboratory, and telecommunications. When ITS was established in 1994, Communication Services (hardware), Computing Systems and Operations, Support Applications, and Instructional Applications were the unit's core sections. Documentation includes photographs and annual reports.

Records created by the Facilities Management and Development unit, organized within the Administration and Finance Division of Cal Poly.

Records, papers, and photographs related to the administration and programming of the Biological Sciences Department, College of Science and Mathematics.

Photographs, negatives, and photographic slides created and collected by campus staff, faculty, and students between 1900-2017. Images include campus buildings and landscape, student activities, special events, classrooms and coursework, faculty and staff events, and aerial views of campus and the surrounding area. Finding aid available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8w09c4b/admin/

Items related to the events and activities related to the 1960 football game with Bowling Green Ohio and the subsequent airplane crash. Also included are related events and fundraisers following the plane crash.

Records created or collected by the Cal Poly Public Affairs Office, before the office split circa 2015 into University Communications (http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/communications.html) and University Marketing (https://universitymarketing.calpoly.edu/). Significant publications produced by the Public Affairs Office include the Cal Poly Report, press releases, and Cal Poly Magazine.

Audio-visual recordings created by campus departments, students, and faculty. May include public relations, sports, and other departments. May also include recordings produced by the ITS department, when that department was involved in media production for the campus.

Records created by the Mathematics Department, College of Science and Mathematics.

Records related to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Cal Poly, held in 2002.

Materials include photographs, scrapbooks, documents, and memorabilia related to Week of Welcome (WOW), SLO Days, and Open House.

Documents related to the development and activities of the Pride Faculty Staff Association. Includes bylaws, minutes, surveys, event announcements, and correspondence. Records date between 2011-2017. More information available at https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8bp089v/admin/