Loyola University Chicago

University Archives & Special Collections

Collections

The Loyola University Chicago Archives & Special Collections is home to approximately 15,000 linear feet of archival collections and over 21,000 rare books. Archival collections include records from the University’s administration, schools and colleges, and departments; Samuel Insull and related collections; Jesuit educators;  Catholic organizations; Chicago history; political cartoons; and the papers of former U.S. Congressmen Dan Rostenkowski and Henry J. Hyde. Special Collections include the Rare Book Collection; Jesuitica Collection; an Edward Gorey collection; History of Medicine collection;and the Michalak 19th century British caricature and satire collection.

 University Records

University records are organized by their creating office, whether it is the office of the President or the History department, and can be found on the A to Z: University Archives list. Not all sections of university records are available for research and not all finding aids for available collections are online.

 Special Collections

Special Collections focus on the following areas: Samuel Insull; Catholic organizations; Jesuit educators; entertainment arts; faculty collections; political cartoons; satire and caricature; Edward Gorey; US Congressional papers, specifically Dan Rostenkowski and Henry J. Hyde. Finding aids for Special Collections can be found at A to Z: Special Collections.

 Collections by Subject

Another way to locate archival collections is by using the Collections by Subject guide. Here, university records and special collections have been gathered together according to subjects found in the materials.

 Rare Book Collection

The Rare Book Collection comprises approximately 21,000 volumes and is especially strong in the areas of British and American History, 19th century British and American Literature, Religion and Theology, Philosophy, and Drama. There are over 15 languages in the collection. Named sections of the collection include the Edward Cudahy Jesuitica Collection, the Michalak Collection, the Mandell Collection, and the Whittingham Chiswick Press Collection.

 Oral History Collections

The oral history collections focus on the following areas: Loyola University Chicago, Latinos in Chicago, Irish immigrants to Chicago, Chicago Public School teachers, and retired Cook County Circuit Court Judges. Not all interviews are transcribed and restrictions may apply to some interviews. 

Photograph Collections

The photograph collections cover Loyola University Chicago; Loyola Academy, when it was on the Lake Shore Campus; churches built or supported by the Catholic Church Extension Society; and ancient Greek and Roman sites.