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Special Collections Access Guide

Get to Know the Archives

Special Collections holds more than 11,000 linear feet of a diverse array of literary and historical manuscripts, personal papers, and college archives. This page offers resources and step-by-step instructions to help you navigate these vast archival collections. If you have questions along the way, please Ask Special Collections.

Online Archive of California (OAC)

Search Tips

  • Use keywords or short phrases within quotes, for example "citrus industry," to search archival collections located at libraries and archives at The Claremont Colleges.
  • When you find a specific collection of interest, you can search within the collection by clicking on that collection and entering a keyword in the search field on the top, right hand side. You can also explore the collection contents by clicking within the table of contents at right.
  • Browse and explore items by downloading a PDF under "View entire collection guide" at top right.

Archives at TCC

Search Tips

  • Use keywords and phrases within quotes to in the main "Search The Archives" bar.

What are archives?

Archives are vibrant places where the first-hand materials of human history are actively collected, preserved, managed, and made accessible. The word "archives" can refer to collections of historical records, the place where they are stored and used, or the organization responsible for them. In under three minutes, learn more about different types of archives, what archivists do, who can use archives, what is missing from them, and why they are valuable.

What is a finding aid?

A finding aid is a guide to an archival collection. It provides basic information about what a collection contains and how it is organized. This brief "Introduction to a Finding Aid" video will introduce you to a finding aid and how to use one.

What is a finding aid? slide