The University Archives stores, organizes, and makes accessible a wide variety of records, publications, photographs, and artifacts about the history of Western since its founding in Monmouth, Oregon in 1856.

Faculty members are encouraged to integrate Western’s history into classroom assignments and projects. Students have documented public sculptures on campus, discovered the history of campus buildings, documented the history of women students at Western, and created departmental histories by using the Archives collections.

The Robert W. Straub archives are the largest of the special collections housed in the Hamersly Library at Western Oregon University. They are primarily the papers of the former Democratic governor of Oregon (1974-1978). Papers include governor’s personal papers including office correspondence, administrative and subject files, staff files, campaign materials, photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, video and sound recordings and photographs.

Archives’ staff can assist faculty, staff, students, alumni, researchers, and others with requests and needs. Contact us using the form below with questions, comments, and suggestions. Please allow staff at least 2 weeks to fulfill any requests or needs. While you wait to hear back from someone, you can start your research on WOU’s Omeka.

Archives Inquiry Form

Please use this general form for research requests and inquiries: *Indicates a required field

  • Archives staff will respond to your inquiry as soon as we can. While you wait to get a response, please use WOU's Omeka to aid you in your self-directed research.

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