Collection Development Policy
Office of Archives
Archdiocese of Dubuque

The Archives office at the Archdiocese of Dubuque endeavors to collect documents and artifacts that directly reflect the spirit, mission, and history of the Archdiocese. It is this guiding principle that we use to make determinations about collecting and/or receiving items into the Archives. The limiting nature of this policy can be understood in the context of space requirements. With limited storage comes selective acquisition.

Examples of items accepted by the Archives:

Parish history books

Parish directories

Letters written to/by priests/archbishops of the Archdiocese

Newspaper clippings directly related to the Archdiocese

Liturgical items having belonged to parishes or priests in the Archdiocese (our aim is not to collect but rather to find new homes for these items)

Blueprints of churches and schools in Archdiocese

Paintings/prints/photos of people, institutions, or entities directly tied to the Archdiocese

Examples of items not accepted by the Archives:

Books and other publications not directly related to the Archdiocese

Religious items of unknown provenance/origin

Duplicate materials already appearing in Archives

Items in poor condition that would take significant resources to restore

Large items that would take up significant space