Archives & Special Collections

Visiting the archives & special collections

• The college archives is open to all by appointment only.
• To schedule a visit or request materials, email archives@coa.edu or click here to schedule an appointment.

Archives & special collections

The archives contains materials documenting the history, organization, policies, people, and development of the college.

Our Special Collections contains materials of enduring historical value that do not fall within the collecting scope of the College Archives but do hold research value to our community members. Most of our special collections can be found in Thorncat, the library catalog. 

Policies

Collection Development Policy

Download our Collection Development Policy, 2025

Reproductions

Reproductions of materials are for private study, scholarship, and research purposes only and may not be transferred to any other person or institution. Some materials may be restricted by donor, law, or due to preservation concerns. The library will provide scans or photocopies of materials when appropriate.

Copyright

Use of manuscripts and published materials is subject to provisions of the copyright law. Permission to examine materials, or to obtain copies, does not imply the right to publish or reproduce them, in whole or in part. Permission must be obtained from the author or anyone else who holds copyright or other publication rights. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, copyright, and literary property rights when quoting or publishing archival materials.

Loans

Materials from the Archives and Special Collections may be temporarily loaned to museums, historical societies, educational institutions, and other educational/historical organizations for exhibits or educational purposes. The Archivist or Library Director may allow individuals to borrow archival materials for exhibits or educational purposes. Materials eligible for loan must have no pre-determined restrictions and be able to withstand travel, handling, and climate changes. A Loan Agreement must be signed prior to any materials leaving the premises.

Collaborative efforts

The History Trust

The History Trust is a non-profit consortium located on MDI that provides its members access to collections-related resources and professional development opportunities, and collaboratively administers the Online Archive for participating organizations to share their digital collections with the public.

Maine Contemporary Archives

We are a proud member of the Maine Contemporary Archives Collaborative, a group of cultural heritage professionals working together to collect, preserve, and provide access to materials related to Maine community members’ experiences of current events. We represent communities from across the state.