Skip to Main Content

UNCSA Archives

The archives exists as the institutional memory of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Exploring Archives Collections

Visit the UNCSA Archives Collections Database to explore UNCSA Archives collections through finding aids, detailed guides to each collection. You can learn more about navigating the Collections Database through two introductory videos below.

Some collections are not yet described in the Collections Database, or have only a general description; however, a full list of collections is available below. As Archives staff organize and describe collections, new finding aids will be added to the database.

Certain collections or items may not be accessible because they are unprocessed; for reasons related to the confidentiality of personnel, student, medical, and other legally protected records; or due to the format or fragile nature of the material. Read more about using Archives material and contact the Archives to discuss your area of interest.

Collections Database: Collection Record Overview

Collections Database: Searching and Browsing

List of Collections

Archives Collections are divided into two groups: Records Groups and Manuscript Collections.

Record Groups contain historical records of the school that have been transferred to the Archives from Schools and departments. Collections include meeting minutes, reports, correspondence, campus publications, sound and video recordings, event programs, photographs, and others.

Manuscript Collections include material related to and illustrating the history of the school and/or the creative and professional output of alumni and other performing artists with ties to UNCSA.

Records Groups (RG) Manuscript Collections (MC)

RG-01: Office of the President/Chancellor

Vittorio Giannini
Dr. Robert Eugene Ward
Dr. Robert Suderburg
Dr. Jane E. Milley
Alexander C. Ewing
Earl Wade Hobgood
John Francis Mauceri
Mark Lindsay Bierman

RG-02: Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost

RG-03: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration

RG-04: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Advancement

RG-05: Board of Trustees

RG-06: UNCSA Foundation

RG-07: Board of Visitors

RG-08: Assistants to the Chancellor

RG-09: Office of Admissions

RG-10: Office of the Registrar

RG-11: UNCSA Library

RG-12: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Economic Development & Chief of Staff

RG-13: Office of Human Resources

RG-14: Office of Purchasing

RG-17: Office of Public Relations

RG-19: School of Design & Production, Visual Arts Records

RG-20: School of Filmmaking

RG-21: UNCSA Committees and Councils

RG-23: School of Dance

RG-24: Photograph Collection

RG-25: School of Drama

RG-26: School of Music

RG-27: Publications Collection

RG-28: Office of Student Affairs

RG-29: General Studies

RG-31: Reports Collection

RG-33: Poster Collection

RG-35: Oral History Collection

RG-37: Film and Video Collection

RG-39: Audio Collection

RG-41: Ephemera and Artifact Collection

RG-43: Stevens Center Collection

RG-45: Program Collection

RG-46: Promotional Material Collection

RG-49: Thomas S. Kenan Institute

RG-50: Artist Village Time Capsule Collection

MC-02: North Carolina Dance Theatre Collection

MC-03: Chancellor Alexander C. Ewing Collection

MC-04: Piedmont Chamber Orchestra Records

MC-06: Dr. James Hustead Semans and Mrs. Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Collection

MC-07: Festival Theatre Incorporated Records

MC-08: Civic Music Association of Winston-Salem Records

MC-09: Governor Terry Sanford Papers

MC-10: Mrs. Paul Muilenberg Papers

MC-11: Dr. Vittorio Giannini Collection

MC-12: Nananne Porcher Collection

MC-13: Gladys Swarthout Collection

MC-15: Giorgio Ciompi Papers

MC-16: M. Patrick Byers Collection

MC-17: Arturo Ciompi Collection

MC-18: Edward Stierle Collection

MC-19: Betsy Friday Collection

MC-20: Sandra Williams Collection

MC-21: Larry Ropp Collection

MC-23: Melissa Hayden Collection

MC-24: Rosemary Harris Collection

MC-25: Associates of the UNC School of the Arts Records

MC-26: Christina Giannini Collection of Design Drawings

MC-27: Julian E. Eubank III Collection

MC-28: Dr. Benjamin F. Ward Collection

MC-29: Howard Jones Collection of Scenic Designs

MC-31: North Carolina Scenic Studios Collection

MC-32: Robert Lindgren and Sonja Tyven Collection

MC-35: Carolina Theatre and Hotel Blueprint Collection

MC-36: Susan Moore Art Collection

MC-37: August Wilson's American Century Cycle Recordings

MC-38: Mel Tomlinson Collection

MC-41: Clarion Wind Quintet Collection

MC-42: Kenneth Rhodes Collection

MC-43: Walter Braxton Collection

What is a Finding Aid?

A finding aid is a document written by archivists that describes a collection of archival records, personal papers, or other material. It is a tool to help patrons determine if the materials in a collection relate to their interest and understand and interpret the materials they are using. 

Each finding aid contains information on:

  • the title of the collection,
  • who created the materials, if known,
  • dates of the records,
  • size of the collection (Extent),
  • how the material came to the UNCSA Archives, and
  • access restrictions, if any.

Some finding aids also include information on:

  • the history or biography of the creator of the records (Biographical / Historical Note),
  • how the materials are organized (Arrangement Note),
  • inventories or contents lists of items in a collection, and
  • selected topics covered by and individuals featured the records (Subjects).

For more information on finding aids, visit The Hows and Whys of Finding Aids by Dorothy Berry.