Not all of St. Ambrose University’s history lives in classrooms, lecture halls, or even in textbooks. Much of it is carefully preserved in the university’s archives, a collection dedicated to protecting and sharing the stories of students, faculty, staff, and alumni across generations.
Led by archivist and professor Onnica Marquez, the archives house everything from student projects and faculty papers to artifacts connected to St. Ambrose himself. The goal is to provide a place where the university’s past can be explored, studied, and appreciated by the campus community.
“Here, we only collect materials that relate to the history of St. Ambrose University,” Onnica explained. “It’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and special collections. We have things that relate to St. Ambrose and his contemporaries.”
Student employees like senior Vinnie Devore also play an important role in maintaining and sharing the collection. For Vinnie, the archives are not only a unique resource for research, but also a way for students to feel connected to the university on a deeper level.
“The students should care about the archives because it could be a source of pride for some students, and it’s also a place to gain perspective,” Vinnie said. “Those two things could make learning worthwhile.”
Though it may not always be in the spotlight, the St. Ambrose archives continue to preserve traditions, memories, and experiences that define the university, ensuring that the past remains a meaningful part of its future.
