History, Governance & Organization

The University Archives began in the early 1990s when Don Yost, General Conference Archivist, visited Andrews University and worked with Robert Moon, University Registrar at the time, to begin forming the institutional realization that an archive was necessary.  In 1999, Wolfgang Kunze was tasked with doing much of the work to set up the structures and policies of what is now the University Archives.  Dr. Kunze worked with Jim Ford, Curator of the Adventist Heritage Center at that time, to develop most of what is seen today.  Kunze also worked under the guidance of the newly formed Archives Committee chaired by Academic Vice President (now Provost) Patricia Mutch.  From the Fall of 2002 until 2010, the University Archives limped along with volunteer help from Wolfgang Kunze and occasional work by Jim Ford.  In the summer of 2010, Alice Williams was appointed University Archivist and served ably until September 2017 when she retired and was replaced by the current University Archivist, Gina Lacson. Gina served as the University Archivist and Records Manager until May of 2022. The current archivist, Kaleigh Buckner, began in July of that year.

The University Archives Committee, chaired by the Provost, with membership from across the campus, oversees the work of the Archives.  The Committee generally meets annually.  A small Archives Executive Committee, chaired by the Director of the Center for Adventist Research, meets as needed through the year to provide guidance.  Significant decisions of the Executive Committee go as recommendations to the annual meeting of the University Archives Committee.  See the applicable portion of the Andrews University Working Policy 1:736

The University Archives is physically located within the Center for Adventist Research on the lower level of the James White Library.  The Archives consists of several sections of compact moveable shelving, some stationary shelving, an office, and a work area.  The Archives has a capacity of 1,780 standard one-cubic foot boxes.