The archives exists as the institutional memory of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, documenting the school’s history from its extraordinary beginning to its  present day standing as one of the world’s premiere arts schools.

The holdings in the archives include materials relating to:

• the school’s establishment as the first state-supported School of the Arts in the United States;
• a substantial audio-visual record of musical performances, dance and drama productions, interviews, commencement and installation ceremonies;  
• the institutional records of the school
• more than 1,600 music performance and oral history recordings;
• 500 videocassettes;
• 15,000 photographs and slides;
• a complete collection of UNCSA press releases and publications;
• a significant collection of more than 70 scrapbooks documenting the achievements of students and faculty

These materials augment the core collection of administrative records and provide researchers with a rich store of information about the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

The mission of the Archives is:

• to collect, organize, describe, preserve and provide access to records of permanent administrative, legal, fiscal and historical value;
• to provide adequate facilities for the retention and preservation of such records;
• to ensure efficient management of recorded information produced by School offices;
• to serve as a resource center to stimulate and nourish creative teaching and learning;
• to promote knowledge and understanding of the origins and development of the programs and goals of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

The Archives of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located on the ground floor of the Semans Library in the Workplace Building. It can be entered from the lower stacks in the library or from the ground floor corner entrance to the building. The campus map indicates the location of Semans Library for those unfamiliar with UNCSA.

The Archives is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m., and by appointment.

The collections are open to the general public as well as to School of the Arts students, faculty, staff and alumni.