The purpose of the University Archives is to provide the University with functional information and primary source documentation of the people, policies, and events of its past. The primary mission is to identify, acquire, select, arrange, and describe materials from California State University, Sacramento. The department serves as an archival repository for permanent records. Archival materials are received by deposit and gift.
Primary patrons are students pursuing classroom assignments.
Still others consult archives for historical, journalistic and scholarly purposes. Since the archives is the repository not only for the official records of the University, but also for records generated by unofficial bodies affiliated with the University's students, faculty, and alumni, it also serves the persons involved in the work of these unofficial bodies. The Department of Archives and Special Collections assists campus departments with material and photo selection to produce brochures, displays, and exhibits which are used for outreach and development. General publications such as academic catalogs, class schedules, handbooks, announcements, directories, commencement and performance programs, research publications, University conference and symposium proceedings, newsletters, brochures, and ephemeral material. Student publications such as campus newspapers, yearbooks, record of student administration and organizations.