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view . spring 2013
If you laid out every document in the University of
Windsor archive,
the line of papers, books, prints, and
other such materials would stretch out five kilometres long.
Tucked away in the Leddy Library basement,
the archive currently has millions of pieces, most of
which originated from Southwestern Ontario, says
Dr. Brian Owens, the University’s archivist and rare
book librarian.
The first thing you notice when initially entering the
archives is the temperature change. No matter what season
it is outside or the temperature of Leddy Library itself, the
archive’s entrance is maintained at an ideal 20ºC, with very
specific humidity levels. Without this stable environment,
culturally valuable, centuries-old pieces could deteriorate
and be lost forever, Owens says.
Upon entering the secure storage area, the setting
is even cooler and filled with rows of boxes. No dusty
archives here—the room is immaculately clean and tidy.
The acid-free storage boxes and files are arranged with a
precise numbering system, made to last 200 to 300 years.
The materials are further protected by sophisticated fire
detection and suppression systems.
UWindsor’s Archives
THE IMMACULATE COLLECTION
BY CHANTELLE MYERS
University Archivist Dr. Brian Owens with a Belgian printing press circa 1550, just one of the thousands of rare items to be found in the University of Windsor archives.
