Archives & Special Collections

The Archives & Special Collections department at the Samuel C. Williams Library houses the University Archives, which includes departmental records, oral histories, faculty papers, alumni collections, ephemera, university publications, audiovisual materials, and photographs documenting student and campus life. The Special Collections is comprised of manuscript collections, rare books, historic artifacts, and paintings. The Archives & Special Collections department actively collects primary source materials that document the history of Stevens, the Stevens family of Hoboken, and the history of science and technology.We assist scholars, including faculty, staff, students, local community members and visitors from overseas with original research. In addition, we collaborate with faculty, staff, and local teachers (K-12) to provide education and outreach for the Archives & Special Collections, which also includes producing exhibitions and public programs related to the history of Stevens, the Stevens family and the documentation of science and technology.  

At this time, visitor access to the Library Archives & Special Collections is available for short-term visitors by appointment at a limited capacity. For research assistance related to the Library Archives & Special Collections or to make a research appointment please contact Leah Loscutoff and Ted Houghtaling. In addition, we invite you to browse our digital collections portal for a selection of digitized manuscripts, photographs, exhibitions, oral histories, and more.  

Archives and Special Collections:

Leah Loscutoff, Head of Archives & Special Collections, lloscuto@stevens.edu / 201-216-5416

Ted Houghtaling, Archivist & Digital Projects Librarian, thoughta@stevens.edu / 201-216-5415

Follow on Instagram @stevensarchives

Mission & Collection Scope

Mission

The mission of the Archives & Special Collections department is to engage students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the local and global community with primary sources and historic artifacts. Our objective is to instill a sense of pride and knowledge about Stevens and its rich heritage and legacy, which includes the history of the Stevens family. Furthermore, Archives & Special Collections will preserve, arrange and describe our unique historical collections and artifacts as they continue to grow and become more accessible to a greater audience. 

Scope 

The scope of collections policy is a tool used to guide Archives and Special Collections in acquiring new accessions and strengthening our collections. It is our goal to focus on areas of historical research and artifacts that complement, support and expand our existing collections in a logical manner, and provide a balance between our available resources, commitments, and future research needs. The following subjects form the core of our collections and our ongoing collection development efforts. 

  • Stevens Institute of Technology History

  • Stevens Family History

  • History of Science and Technology in the New Jersey area

  • North Jersey Embroidery Archive

  • Voices of Castle Point - Stevens Oral History Project 

Using and Accessing

Special Collections and Archives materials do not circulate and may only be consulted in the area designated by Special Collections staff in the S.C. Williams Library. Materials from the Special Collections and Archives may be viewed with advanced notice, by appointment only.

Appointments can be made Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:30am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm.

Scheduling an appointment

Please fill out this online registration form to schedule an appointment to access the archives. You may also call to make an appointment at (201) 216-5416. We will get back to you on your appointment request within 48 hours (business days).

Reading Room

  • Please make sure to fill out the registration form, and show archives staff an ID (student ID, driver’s license, or passport), before accessing the materials.

  • Only pencils and laptop computers may be used within the collections. Scanners and tape recorders are not permitted.

  • All large backpacks, purses, and coats must be checked in and will be stored securely by archives staff.

  • Food, beverages, and chewing gum, are not permitted within the collections.

  • If a copy of a fragile item is available the researcher will be required to consult the copy as opposed to the original. Permission to view the original will be determined by the Archivist.

  • Unless otherwise authorized, researchers may consult only one book or one box of manuscripts at a time. A researcher requesting both book and manuscript materials must consult them separately unless otherwise authorized.

  • All materials consulted must be handled with great care. Researchers handling materials carelessly will be denied further access to the collections.

  • Materials must remain on the table during use. They are not to be placed in the lap or propped against the table edge.

  • When consulting some types of material, researchers will be required to wear gloves supplied by the department. Loose photographs will always require gloves.

  • Researchers are held responsible for all materials charged to them. Materials may not be transferred from one researcher to another.

  • Cameras are allowed in the reading room, but flash must always be off when photographing items.

  • Cell phone rings must be off when in the reading room doing research.

Tours

  • You can tour the Library's Archives and Special Collections by making appointment using the following form.

  • TAKE A TOUR

Duplication and Reproduction Policies and Costs

Special Collections provides staff-mediated photocopying and digitization services. Use of digital cameras without a flash is permitted.All duplication of materials in Special Collections and Archives is done by staff only, and the library reserves the right to refuse a copying order if, in the staff's judgment, fulfillment of the order would violate copyright law, or if size or condition of the material does not permit safe copying.Turnaround time for standard reproduction orders is four working days.Due to limited staff we cannot accommodate expedited orders.Photocopies larger than 11x17 cannot be made.No more than 20 photocopies may be made from any single published item.Any necessary restrictions on copying archival and manuscript collections is determined by Special Collections staff.

Costs

In-house photocopies - $.10 per page

For patrons requesting photocopies by telephone request or email: $.25 per page with a minimum cost of $10.00.

Photographic Reproductions:

  • 8x10 = $12.00

  • 11 x 17 = $23.00

  • 16 x 20 $28.00

*If you need a size larger than 16x20, please contact the Archivist (lloscuto@stevens.edu)

  • Digital Reproductions:

  • High resolution TIFF = $10/per image

  • JPEG image = $5/per image

*If the image you need has already been scanned and is online, there is no charge.