The Citadel Archives

Tessa Updike, Archivist

Are you researching a Citadel ancestor? Do you have a question about Citadel history? Would you like to use our collections on campus? Do you have materials to donate?

Contact the Archivist at: archives@citadel.edu

Thank you for your patience, as we receive a high volume of requests. Questions are answered in the order they are received. Due to limited staff time, we are unable to assist walk-in researchers. Please contact us to schedule your appointment at least two weeks in advance, keeping in mind that our calendar fills up quickly.

We look forward to assisting you!

The third floor of the Daniel Library, including The Citadel Museum, will have new carpet installed this June. Please be aware that the Museum will be closed at times throughout the month of June to accommodate this installation. If closed during your visit, we hope you enjoy our history displays on the first and second floors of the Library.

Welcome to The Citadel Archives and Museum!

The Citadel Archives, located in the Daniel Library, houses collections relating to the history of The Citadel. Dating back to The Citadel’s founding in 1842, holdings include institutional records and publications, letters, diaries, speeches, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and much more. We offer reference assistance and classroom instruction, and welcome collaboration with students, faculty, staff, and the community. Visitors are welcome to browse our website and digital collections, and are encouraged to contact us.

The Citadel Archives has the goal of sharing an inclusive history that lifts the voices and stories of historically underrepresented members of our community. Discoveries and recommendations for further research are included in our Research Guides and Projects. Click on the images below to learn about ongoing research, and contact the archivist with any questions.

Visit our Online Guide to Collections to search a list of archival collections by name and subject.

Our Digital Collections Website provides access to select institutional records and publications, letters, photographs, museum objects, and more. This site continues to expand as we digitize and transcribe more materials from The Citadel Archives & Museum, so please check back frequently for new additions.

Oral histories from The Charleston Oral History Program at The Citadel can be searched from both our Digital Collections Website, and through the South Carolina Digital Library (both links provided below).

Faculty members are encouraged to contact the Archives to discuss ways we can incorporate primary sources and digital humanities into your classes. The Archivist offers an Introduction to Primary Sources class session, which allows students to view and handle photographs, letters, diaries, and artifacts from our collections.

We are happy to collaborate with faculty to create assignments, workshops, and lectures relating to primary sources or Citadel history.

Faculty members are encouraged to recommend students for internships in The Citadel Archives & Museum. Student interns have the opportunity to learn more about the collection, preservation, and description of archival collections, and are given projects that allow them to participate in preservation and digital humanities projects.

Questions? Email tupdike@citadel.edu

The Citadel Museum, located on the third floor of the Daniel Library, represents the history of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. Arranged chronologically, permanent exhibits feature the military, academic, athletic and social aspects of cadet life.

Highlights include Citadel rings dating to 1895, cadet uniforms, swords, and a recreation of a cadet room from Marion Square.