Creighton University Archives

Library Construction

Although the lower level of Reinert-Alumni Memorial Library has reopened, access to Creighton University Archives remains limited.  The move of our Archives Annex to a new location and the reorganization of collections at the main library location continue.  Persons who wish to access the permanent collections should contact the University Archivist (archives@creighton.edu or 402.280.2746) to schedule an appointment.

Mission

The mission of the Creighton University Archives is to acquire, preserve, and organize materials and information that have enduring value related to the history of Creighton University, a private Catholic and Jesuit comprehensive university founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1878.  The University Archives will promote Creighton University, especially the university's teaching, research and service efforts, by making these materials accessible for research, instructional, administrative and other uses and by serving as an informational and educational resource for the Creighton community and others.

Hours

The University Archives is open by appointment only, Monday - Friday (except holidays), 9am - 4pm.  Please contact the University Archivist, David E. Crawford, by email or telephone (402.280.2746) to schedule an appointment.

THE OMAHA DEPORRES CLUB - OMAHA'S CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEERS (April 2013)
Monday, April 8th, 6:30pm, in Harper Center Room 3028

Matt Holland to present 3rd annual University Archives Lecture

The DePorres Club played an important role in the struggle for civil rights in Omaha from the 1940s into the 1960s.  Started in 1947 by Father John Markoe, S.J., and Creighton student Denny Holland (who was also the club’s first president), the interracial, interdenominational group united people from Creighton and Omaha to fight for civil rights and aid the poor.  In “The Omaha DePorres Club – Omaha’s Civil Rights Pioneers,” Matt Holland (Denny’s son) will discuss the club’s founding, its mission, and its many civil rights victories.

Matt Holland is currently writing a book about his father’s important work with the DePorres Club.  His research draws from a wealth of original source materials, including some from the collections of the Creighton University Archives. 

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact University Archivist David Crawford (402-280-2746; davidecrawford@creighton.edu)

ARCHIVES ANNEX RELOCATION (December 2012)
Relocation of the University Archives Annex from the Labaj Building to the Wareham Building has begun.  Construction of designated areas has been completed and the Archives has started moving furniture and some collections to the new Annex.  The remaining materials will be transferred in January 2013 after new shelving is installed.

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVIST ON CREIGHTON IN THE COMMUNITY (May 2012)
David Crawford, Creighton's University Archivist, recently talked about founders Mary Lucretia Creighton and Sarah Emily Creighton with Joyce Bunger for the Creighton in the Community series.  The program will air on TKN (The Knowledge Network of Greater Omaha).

 

CREIGHTON'S ATHLETICS HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES (April 2012)
Travis Sing presents 2nd annual University Archives Lecture

Travis Sing was the guest speaker for the second annual University Archives Lecture on April 23, 2012.  His talk, "Creighton's Athletics History in the University Archives," highlighted photographic and other materials he found in the permanent collections of Creighton's University Archives while researching for his book, Creighton University Athletics: A History in Photographs.

Travis Sing wrote and published Creighton University Athletics: A History in Photographs in 2008 after he noticed the conspicuous absence of a Creighton-related sports history at area bookstores.  Travis, a 1995 Creighton history graduate, has been a public history consultant and now works as a freelance historian in the Omaha area.   To order a copy of the book, visit the website of Osage Orange Publishing. 

 

NEW DIGITAL EXHIBITS (March 2012)
Since 2007 the University Archives has produced historical exhibits about Creighton University.  These exhibits featured original artifacts and photographic reproductions of materials in University Archives collections.  Even though no longer displayed, viewers may still experience the exhibits in digital form in our Digital Galleries.

WILLIAM F. RIGGE, SJ, PAPERS (March 2012)
William F. Rigge, SJ (1857-1927), a priest and a scientist, figured prominently in Creighton University's first fifty years.  A prolific scholar, he published widely in scientific and popular journals.  At the time of his death in 1927, Father Rigge was writing his Memoirs, which was more accurately a history of Creighton's first half century.  The University Archives has made some of Father Rigge's academic and historical work available online, and will continue to make other materials available as we are able.

NEW CREIGHTON HISTORICAL WEBSITES (February 2012)
The University Archives has contributed information and images to two new websites that feature important parts of Creighton's history.  The "History of the Creighton Presidency" provides information and images about each individual who has served as president of our institution.  Another new site highlights "20 Interesting Historical Facts About Creighton University."

CREIGHTON YEARBOOKS (Fall 2011)
All volumes of the Bluejay (Creighton's yearbook) have been digitized and are now available online.  The Online Resources section provides more information as well as a link to the online yearbooks.