Archives and CMU History

University Archives Alumni: Where Are They Now?

Through the Carnegie Mellon University Archives, CMU students with a passion for primary sources and collective memory can dive into the intellectual, cultural, and administrative history of the university, exploring the past and investigating how it informs the present moment. We checked in with 2024 Dietrich College graduate Nancy Zuo, who frequently interacted with the Archives during her time as an undergraduate, to see where that passion has taken her post-graduation.

Room to Design

Amanda Qian stood in the empty gallery space on the first floor of Hunt Library, letting the room speak to her. She surveyed the walls and floor that would soon house "Room to Imagine," Carnegie Mellon University's 125th anniversary exhibit. She imagined the flow of visitors, the framing of objects, and the pause points of reflection and discovery.

Spotlight: Crystal Johnson

At the University Libraries, faculty and staff bring diverse backgrounds and interests to their roles, elevating the Libraries’ culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and lifelong learning and curiosity. We asked Community Collections Processing Archivist Crystal Johnson a few questions about her work, to find out more about the inspiration behind her contributions to the campus community.

Remembering Julia Parsons

The Carnegie Mellon University Libraries community was saddened to hear that Julia Parsons, a 1942 general studies graduate of Margaret Morrison Carnegie College and US Navy code breaker during World War II, passed away on April 18, 2025 at the age of 104 years old.

“Living History: Tracing CMU Culture Through Student Organizations” Photo Gallery

More than 100 visitors joined the Libraries Student Advisory Council at their end-of-year showcase on Tuesday, April 22. “Living History: Tracing CMU Culture Through Student Organizations” celebrated the history and impact of student organizations on campus, inviting the CMU community to engage with primary sources and other historic materials that tell the story of how these groups have helped shape the culture of the university.

How a Collection in the Architecture Archives Inspired Graduate Research

Each semester, Arts and Humanities Librarian Lynn Kawaratani visits classes in the School of Architecture to introduce students to the resources available to them through the University Libraries. One resource she shares is the Architecture Archives, which collects, conserves, and promotes the use of architectural records that document the architects and architecture of Carnegie Mellon University, the city of Pittsburgh, and its region.

Archives Open House Photo Gallery

During Spring Carnival, the University Archives invited members of the CMU community to engage with the university’s past in “From Buggy To Bots: Explore CMU’s History with the University Archives.” The open house highlighted the Archives’ role on campus and its mission to preserve the legacy of Carnegie Mellon's history and traditions.

From the University Archives: Takeo Kanade Papers

In honor of National Robotics Week, the University Archives is highlighting a valuable robotics resource preserved in its collections — the papers of SCS Founders University Professor Takeo Kanade.

Student Advisory Council Celebrates Living History Through Student Organizations

As the 2025 spring semester comes to a close, the 2024-2025 Libraries Student Advisory Council (LSAC) is putting the finishing touches on their year-long archiving project to collect and preserve artifacts from student groups on campus. On Tuesday, April 22, join LSAC from 5–7 p.m. in Hunt Library’s IDeATe Studio B as they showcase primary sources and other historic materials in “Living History: Tracing CMU Culture Through Student Organizations.”

How a Student Worked with the Architecture Archives to Save Rare CMU Blueprints

Before winter break, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences first-year Ryan Tosh found a large trash bag filled with architectural drawings depicting buildings on CMU’s campus in the KGB’s office during a cleaning session.