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Statement of Purpose

The Erikson Archives seeks to support the Institute’s mission of education and research by collecting, organizing, preserving, and providing access to Erikson’s historical records.  

The Erikson Institute Archive, housed in the Edward Neisser Library, is a valuable source of information on the history of Erikson Institute. Archive staff work with the Erikson community to identify and acquire key records of enduring historical, administrative, legal, and cultural significance. Archive staff and the records administrator make all final decisions concerning whether records will be preserved in the Institute archive. Records considered archival may be transferred to the Institute archive when they become inactive, at the discretion of the originating department.  

Types of Archival Materials Collected

1. Legal or constituting documents, vital records, policy statements, reports, minutes, substantive memoranda, correspondence, and subject files of the Institute’s: 

  • Board of Trustees, including committees  
  • President  
  • Executive officers  
  • Faculty council   

 
2. Reports of: 

  • Self-studies and accreditation visits  
  • Annual budgets and audits  
  • Institutional reports required by external agencies  
  • Research projects  
  • Community-based projects  

 
3. Records of: 

  • Departments, e.g., minutes, reports, self-studies, style guides, syllabi, faculty vitae, official correspondence 
  • Enrollment management materials, e.g., bulletins, calendars, class schedules, enrollment reports  
  • Student committee  

 
4. All publications, newsletters, posters, etc. about or distributed in the name of the Institute, in both print and electronic formats   

 
5. Special format materials documenting the operation and development of the Institute, such as:  

  • Audio, audiovisual, and multi-media productions;  
  • Websites  
  • Oral histories  
  • Blueprints of the campus  

 
6. Personal papers of selected individuals associated with Erikson  

Using the Erikson Archives

Our archives support Erikson’s mission of education and research by collecting, organizing, preserving, and providing access to our historical records. The archives feature a physical collection of non-circulating items in the library and a digital collection of photos, hosted by CARLI Digital Collections. If you would like to visit the archives, email libraryhelp@erikson.edu to make an appointment.  
 
Items Allowed in Archives  

Only paper, pencils, and laptops may be used when working with the physical archives. If you would like to bring a camera or a personal scanner, please contact the archivist ahead of your visit by emailing libraryhelp@erikson.edu. Food and drink are permitted, but must be kept separated from the archival materials. 

Use of Materials 

Archival materials should be handled with care. They cannot be marked or folded and their existing order must be maintained. If you think there is a filing error, please let the archivist know! Researchers should not rearrange any material without the archivist’s knowledge.  

Photocopying and Scanning 

Photocopying and scanning of items in the physical archives is done at the discretion of the staff. The Archives reserve the right to refuse any copying request that might damage the material, or if fulfillment of the request would involve violation of copyright law. Scanning and copying is done by our staff members and costs $20 per hour. If the scanning and copying can be done in less than 30 minutes, it is free. Duplication of archival material does not constitute transfer of copyright or property right, nor does it constitute permission to publish in excess of "fair use" or to display materials. 

Citations 

All documents from the physical archives must be credited. Please cite as: 

  • [Collection Name], Erikson Institute Archives, Chicago, IL 
  • Example: Barbara Bowman’s Papers, Erikson Institute Archives, Chicago, IL 

When using an image from Erikson’s photo collection via CARLI Digital Collections, please cite as: 

  • [Photo title], [Collection Name], Erikson Institute Digital Collection, retrieved from [reference URL for photo]. 

 
Donations 
We welcome donations that are in line with the archives’ collection policy. However, due to space limitations and staff time, we cannot preserve all donations in the archives.