Archival and Special Collections are usually available for viewing on a one book, box, or folder at a time basis. Readers may be permitted to consult multiple items together if needed. Archives staff may limit the number of books or other material available at one time depending on size and condition of requested material.

• The exact arrangement of unbound materials (papers in folders and folders in boxes) must be maintained.
• All written notes must be taken with pencils. The use of pens and markers is prohibited.
• Marking, erasing, or altering materials is prohibited
• The use of post-it notes to mark pages is prohibited. Marking slips are available for this purpose.
• Resting open books face down or resting anything (note pad, books) on any material is prohibited.
• Tracing from Archives and Special Collections materials is prohibited.
• All materials must remain flat on the surface of the table. When appropriate, readers may be asked to place books and bound materials on book rests or cradles, and to use weights for holding books open. Readers may be asked to wear gloves when viewing certain types of materials such as photographs or especially fragile or unique materials.
• Photocopying, photographing, or scanning of items may be done only with the prior permission of Archives and Special Collections staff, and only if the physical condition of the original permits.
• Materials will not be sent to off-site users through interlibrary loan; however, off-site users may request photocopies or other reproductions of materials. All requests are subject to the Archives and Special Collections’ Duplication Policies.
• Notify staff immediately if you discover damaged materials or uncut pages.
• Archives and Special Collections materials may be protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. Title 17 U.S. Code governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Users are responsible for securing any necessary copyright and reproduction permissions. Permission to duplicate Archives and Special Collections material does not constitute permission to publish.
• The Archives and Special Collections Department of St. Edward’s University appreciates recognition for materials used from our collection.

The St. Edward's University Archives, founded in 1958 by Brother Philip Odette, C.S.C., houses, collects, organizes, preserves and makes available information documenting the human record of St. Edward's Academy, College, High School, Military Academy, and University from approximately 1871 to the present. Our holdings reflect a unique documentation of a small, private Catholic school in Texas and its struggles and successes toward becoming the institution it is today.

Almost all yearbooks, student newspapers, catalogs, alumni newspapers are available for casual perusal on the public access shelf.

Our holdings include:

• Personal collections (documenting the personal lives of faculty, administrators and students)
• Events such as Founder's Day, Commencement, Honors night, holidays, etc.
• Administrative records (such as the Board of Trustees, Academic Council, student government, etc.)
• Student activities (student organizations, on-campus entertainment, recreations)
• Records of the Schools, Departments, Programs and predecessors (such as Humanities, Natural Sciences, College Assistance Migrant Program, New College, Business Administration, Athletics, Maryhill College, etc.)
• Presidential records and correspondence
• Congregation of the Holy Cross records
• Yearbooks, catalogs, directories and student newspapers
• Campus publications
• Alumni records
• Photographs, negatives and slides
• Architectural drawings, blueprints, planning documents & proposals regarding the campus' physical development
• Videotapes
• Audio cassettes (including oral histories)
• 16mm and 8mm films
• Microfilm of the student newspaper "The Echo" (1885-1985)
• Artifacts