Martha Wachsmuth

The University archives were officially established by Rev. Paul Waldschmidt, C.S.C., on June 1, 1966, under the direction of Bro. David Martin, C.S.C. (pictured), the newly retired director of the Clark Memorial Library and the University’s first archivist. In the ensuing 48 years, the archives have been maintained by only four archivists: Bro. Martin served from 1966 to 1983; Rev. Barry Hagan, C.S.C., served from 1983 to 1999; Rev. Bob Antonelli, C.S.C., was archivist from 1999 to 2012; and the affable and able Rev. Jeffrey Schneibel, C.S.C., took the helm in 2012. One would be remiss not to mention Martha Wachsmuth, who spent 29 of her 41 years as a University employee in the University archives, serving as assistant archivist under Fr. Hagan and Fr. Antonelli.

Bro. Martin and Fr. Hagan collected many thousands (millions, most likely) of documents and photographs from University offices, colleges, schools, departments, and individuals as well as copies of many different University publications over the years. The cavernous archives space in the basement of Shipstad filled steadily, and despite their best efforts it proved difficult to keep up with the steady flow of new materials. Finding Fr. Hagan or Martha within the stacks of papers and boxes often involved negotiating a labyrinth of pathways without so much as a skein of thread to find one’s way out.

Until 1999, the University archivist reported directly to the academic vice president. Beginning with the tenure of Fr. Antonelli, the archives became a part of the University library. Mountains of documents were catalogued and neatly shelved; computers were added, compact shelving and climate control were installed, online database finding aids were compiled, and two digital collections were made available via the library web page.

For more University history visit the University Almanac at www.up.edu/almanac.