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Reflections from Willa Needham, UCLA '24
When I began working at UCLA Library as a student communications assistant in June 2022, I had a vague fascination with archives, but knew very little about how they operated– only how they made me feel. In the limited interactions I had with archival materials, from viewing them behind glass at museums to digging around my grandmother’s closet, I felt an implacable sense of awe and sentimentality.
These feelings only became more pronounced as I explored UCLA Library’s vast archival collections in my role with the Library’s Communications department. Whether I was searching UCLA Library Digital Collections for the perfect photo for a social media post or tracing my finger along the pristine ink of a 1,200-year-old Tibetan scroll while filming a tour of the East Asian Library, I was moved by this same sense of reverence and recognition. Since working at the Library, I have learned that archives are immensely important– both for their preservation and communication of vital historical information and their ability to transmit emotion across expanses of time and circumstance.
In this article, I interviewed University Archivist Andrea Hoff at Library Special Collections to discuss the importance of archives as the UCLA University Archives celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Inside University Archives: insights from the University Archivist, Andrea Hoff
As University Archivist, Hoff is responsible for the maintenance and development of the University Archives, a collection of non-current official university records and additional materials that document campus and student life or are otherwise affiliated with UCLA (1919-) and its predecessor the Los Angeles State Normal School (1881-1919). Established in 1949 by Provost Clarence A. Dykstra to initiate an official strategy to catalog the records and history of the university, the materials in the University Archives document administrative offices and departments, academic programs, significant events, affiliated people, organizations and campus groups.
Hoff reviews donated and acquired materials to determine their relevance to the collection and appraises private archival materials to assess their eligibility for inclusion. She also stewards and promotes the collection, devising strategies to increase awareness and engagement with these archival materials. Much of her role involves fielding inquiries and research questions from personnel in internal branches of UCLA, researchers and curious members of the general public.
Recently, Hoff and I met at UCLA Library Special Collections where she gave me a tour of a selection of materials she had curated from the University Archives. The display (above) contained only a fraction of the materials in the collection but represented notable areas including student activism, sporting events, campus construction and student life.
As I browsed the array of yearbooks, early campus photographs, festive pins, official publications and student-made protest signs, I was amazed by the variety of materials in the University Archives. Seeing the different areas of the collection gave me a renewed appreciation for the massive scale of UCLA, the breadth of its operations and the countless numbers of individuals impacted throughout its history.
I was also moved by the personal qualities of some of the materials. As I held a UCLA student handbook from the year 1930 (below) I felt tangibly connected to the history of the university and the students who came before me.
What is the purpose of the University Archives?
Hoff emphasizes that the University Archives is vital to maintaining an organized record of UCLA history and operations. Hoff’s role includes fact-checking statements or data points related to UCLA. She often works closely with branches and departments of the university to answer questions related to archived official records or curate materials to recognize historical markers like anniversaries.
But the University Archives showcase more than administrative details, Hoff says, "University Archives tells the story of UCLA - what makes it so special and so unique. There are thousands of stories here waiting to be told."
As the University Archivist, Hoff faces the important yet elusive task of assisting UCLA in shaping its historical narrative and story. An indispensable aspect of this work is being mindful of diversity and striving to address gaps in the archive by including historically marginalized voices. Recent initiatives have encouraged UCLA student groups, departments or individuals from underrepresented populations to donate their records to the University Archives.
Because of the prominence of UCLA and its ties to many different aspects of culture and history, the UCLA University Archives is a rich source of knowledge about topics beyond the university.
Hoff shares that one of her favorite aspects of her role as the University Archivist is learning about the past: "I find it thrilling to uncover new information about the past. Archives are a critical resource," she said. "Primary sources shape the historical record and help us uncover new information."
Some materials featured in the display curated by Hoff (below) document the early history of UCLA’s Westwood campus. As I looked over the photographs and article clippings, I was reminded of the prominence of UCLA throughout Los Angeles’ history and development. Learning about the history of UCLA through primary sources can unlock new, compelling information about the city.
What makes the UCLA University Archives unique?
Hoff says that the history of UCLA, and the institution in general, is illustrious in that it is marked by achievement and excellence, yet it remains deeply connected to the greater community because of its status as a public university: “It’s no secret that many alumni, faculty, staff and associates of UCLA are culturally prominent or acclaimed. The University Archives reflects the star-studded and impressive local and global presence of UCLA.”
On the display table Hoff curated (below), a Nobel Prize rests beside an array of hand-made pins. The items do not contradict each other, rather, they reflect the unified spirit of UCLA which is defined both by individual excellence and the combined brilliance of its constituency. The growth and actions of UCLA are also intertwined with Los Angeles and its residents, a precedent that continues to drive the mission of the university today.
The sub-collection “Student Activism Materials” in the University Archives attracts inquiries from researchers across disciplines and holds personal, historical and cultural significance for many students and alumni. This curated section contains materials related to student activism, like photographs, flyers, posters and news coverage, representing the strong tradition of student movements at UCLA from its founding to the present day. Prominent themes of the collection, including pacifism and freedom of expression, are apparent in two featured posters protesting WWI and WWII (below).
Another notable quality of the University Archives is the union of institutional records with personal items. Personal items like letters, photographs and mementos from the past allow people in the present to experience moments of recognition and identification with historical narratives. For example, the UCLA student handbook from the 1950s and student ID cards from the 1940s (below) bring life and emotion into the archive and demonstrate that history is an ongoing process made up of individual stories. Handling primary sources can feel intimate and allow one to develop special connections with the subject matter.
What should more people know about the University Archives?
Hoff shares that she hopes to demystify the archive and shift common misconceptions about its insularity. “I wish more people understood that we are doing everything possible to preserve these materials but also make them accessible and use them in creative ways.”
Hoff emphasizes that archivists aren’t just “putting chemicals on paper and cataloging them,” they are actively performing community outreach and facilitating meaningful interactions with archival materials. After discovering the University Archives was founded 75 years ago, Hoff has been developing ways to use the anniversary to uplift the collections, increase awareness and make the materials more accessible to the entire community. In the coming months look out for upcoming exhibits or events featuring materials from the University Archives.
Header image: UCLA Campus postcard - Westwood Entrance, ca. 1965
