The Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Research Center (SCARC) maintains and makes available the University's unique collections of manuscripts, archives, photographs, and books. Subject strengths include:

• the historical records of OSU 
• the history of science and technology 
• cultural and ethnic groups in Oregon 
• experiences of LGBTQ+ people within the OSU and Corvallis communities
• hops and brewing in the Northwest 
• natural resources in the Pacific Northwest, especially agriculture and forestry. 

The Special Collections and Archives Research Center public service point is located in the Douglas Strain Reading Room on the 5th Floor of the Valley Library at Oregon State University. Our public service hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm during the academic year. We frequently close to accommodate class visits; if you plan to visit us, please check our calendar.

See our Guide to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center for more on how to visit SCARC, find our collections, and research tips.

Collections listed in this guide are identified by title and collection number, and are described in a brief statement on the relevant contents of the collection. Relevant subjects, topics, and/or keywords have been bolded, and box and folder information has been included as appropriate.

All collections listed in this guide are open for research. Some collections, however, are not yet fully processed, arranged, or described; the titles of these collections have been marked with an asterisk, i.e., *Avery Lodge Records, 1966-2014.

This guide describes physical collections located in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center. Digitized materials can be located by searching Oregon Digital; where appropriate, links to specific collection material in Oregon Digital have been provided.

Looking for online content? Oregon Digital contains a wealth of digitized materials that document Oregon State University's rich history. Often, digitized materials are gathered together as sets, either by publication or collection. Examples of such sets include:

• Oregon State University General Catalogs

• Oregon State University Commencement Programs

• Oregon State University Yearbooks

• Oregon State University Fact Books

• Alumni Magazine

• The Daily Barometer

• Oregon State University Memorabilia Collection, ca. 1860-present

• Harriet's Photograph Collection, 1868-1996

• Beaver Yearbook Photographs, 1998-2005

• Oregon Stater Photograph Collection, 1967-2005

• Oregon State University Historical Photographs, 1868-1980

SCARC's robust oral history program has collected, transcribed, and made digitally available thousands of individual stories documenting the history of OSU and its community, including:

• Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Project, 2013-2017
• Voices of Oregon State University Oral History Collection, 1995-2024
• Oregon State University Alumni Oral History Collection, 2005-2014
• Oregon State University Cultural Centers Oral History Collection, 2013-2015
• OSU Queer Archives Oral History Collection, 2015-2024

Your archivists are here to help!

Staff of the library’s Special Collections and Archives Research Center are available for virtual reference consultations. Please email us at scarc@oregonstate.edu if you have questions or would like to set up an appointment.