The DCA is the steward of the University's permanently valuable records and collections created in any format, ensuring their permanent preservation and accessibility.
browse this website using the DCA Sitemap
via the Tufts Digital Library
Our collection policies define the scope and nature of material which the Archives collects.
The DCA manages the central digital library repository. This repository is a central resource for permanently valuable information relevant to both the academic and administrative needs of the university, across all divisions and schools. Thus, collection content must also meet the standard of relevance to the teaching, research, or administrative needs of the university. Digital content must meet form and metadata standards developed by the DCA and the Tufts libraries.
Since much of the funding for content creation projects is based on the priorities of national, regional, and local granting agencies, specific subject areas for collecting focus are reviewed and adjusted annually, but will always support the general policy stated above.
It is the responsibility of the content contributors to deliver their content in a format and organization acceptable to the DCA and the technical standards of the repository system. The DCA will assist potential contributors in bringing content up to the required standards, but the cost of doing so must be borne by the contributor. This assistance can be as simple as distributing metadata standards or as complex as being a partner in a multi-year, grant-funded project.
As the University Archives, the DCA has a mandate from the Board of Trustees to collect, preserve, and make available official university records of permanent administrative, legal, fiscal, and historical value. These records may exist in any format, e.g. paper, microfilm, magnetic media, or digital.
Records schedules developed and administered through the records management program govern collection development of university records. It is the responsibility of administrative offices and other content contributors to follow records management and transfer procedures, and to deliver permanently valuable content to the DCA in a format and organization that meet DCA standards. The DCA will assist contributors in bringing content up to the required standards, but the cost of doing so must be borne by the contributor. As part of its responsibilities, the DCA assists offices and departments in scheduling and organizing their records.
Special Collections is a blanket term used to identify valuable collections that require special handling, or do not fit into existing bibliographic methods of description. This typically includes rare and old books, collections related to the university and its history (such as the John Holmes papers, or the Edwin Bolles collection), or collections acquired for research or teaching purposes (such as the Tobacco Documents, or the Mystic River Watershed Association collection). These collections are frequently the subject of digital projects because reformatting makes them available in ways not previously possible. They often form the founding core of digital library collections because they are either owned by the institution or exist in the public domain. These collections must meet the standard of relevance to the teaching, research, or administrative needs of the university.
It is the responsibility of the content contributors to deliver the content in a format and organization acceptable to the DCA. The DCA will assist potential contributors in bringing content up to the required standards, but the cost of doing so must be borne by the contributor. This assistance can be as simple as distributing metadata standards or packaging instructions, or as complex as being a partner in a multi-year, grant-funded project.
The Tufts University Digital Collections and Archives (DCA) collects faculty collections that support the teaching and research mission of the institution. The DCA will evaluate each collection on a case-by-case basis to determine its appropriateness for accessioning into the DCA's permanent collection. This policy describes the types of faculty materials the DCA generally accepts.
Faculty collections generally contain the following types of records:
Syllabi, audio/visual materials, lectures, exams, etc.
Teaching materials relating to courses taught at Tufts are considered university records and as such
are part of the record of the particular department or program at Tufts for which the faculty member
teaches. More information on retention and disposition of these materials is contained in the university records schedules.
Datasets, field notes, oral histories/recordings, publications, presentations/papers delivered, substantive correspondence, etc.
Research materials include all types of materials generated and utilized in the scope of scholarly
research. For many types of research that result in publication, the publication is considered the
final result of the research project and as such is the primary record of research activity. In
addition to these publications, the DCA collects datasets, field notes, oral histories, recordings
of events or performances not otherwise documented, or other unique materials that can be
considered the product of scholarly research. In general, the DCA does not collect materials that are
otherwise available, such as photocopies of journal articles, news stories, material from other
archival repositories, or other published materials. It generally does not collect drafts or galley
proofs of published items. For materials that do not fit the DCA's collecting criteria, it will work
with faculty to investigate the appropriateness of transferring materials to the special collections
holdings of the university library system.
At Tufts: Faculty professional activities at Tufts include participation in committees, task forces, or other administrative activities, including tenure review. Materials generated in the course of these types of activities are considered university records. More information on the retention and disposition of these materials is contained in the records schedules.
Non-Tufts: This type of professional activity could include participation in international, national, or regional professional organizations or serving on boards, commissions, or committees outside Tufts. In general, materials generated in the course of this type of activity are considered the records of the particular organization and as such should be transferred to that organization's archives. Generally, the DCA does not collect these materials.
Professional correspondence: Substantive correspondence with others in the field related to research activities falls within the scope of the research materials described above. Correspondence written as a member of a particular organization or committee is part of that group's records and should be transferred accordingly.
Personal papers include personal correspondence, family materials, snapshots, mementoes, and eother memorabilia. Generally, the DCA does not collect these materials.
Alumni/ae of all of Tufts University's constituent schools and programs are encouraged to contact the DCA about donations of materials relating to the history of Tufts.
These materials can include:
Alunni/ae interested in placing their personal papers should contact the DCA. Such collections will be evaluated on a case by case basis with preference given to collections that fall within the DCA's overall collection scope.
The DCA collects, on a limited basis, objects and artifacts relating to the history of Tufts University or which support the teaching and research mission of the university. The decision to accept or decline additions to the collection will be made by the DCA on a case by case basis.
To inquire about donating objects or artifacts to the DCA's permanent collections, please contact the DCA.