Archives

The University Archives, housed in Grace Library, serves as the institutional memory of Carlow University. In doing so, the Archives collects, arranges, preserves, and makes accessible records of permanent and lasting historical value as related to the history of the Carlow community. The materials in the collection reflect the University's history, from its roots as Our Lady of Mercy Academy, through the college's founding as a Catholic women's college in 1929, to its existence today as an institution of coeducational higher education. 

The University Archives were held in storage from 2014 to 2021. We are currently working to restore the Archives to its full potential. Our collections are inaccessible until further notice.

Our Lady of Mercy Academy Chateau and the newly-built Sisters of Mercy Convent, circa 1910.

The Archives currently houses two main collections.

• The Carlow Archives collection, comprised of items related to the founding, history, and operations of Carlow University, including some items from Our Lady of Mercy Academy and the Campus Laboratory School. Items in this collction include photographs, framed portraits and class composites, historic documents pertaining to everyday operations, building blueprints, course catalogs, commemorative items and realia, film and audio recordings, caps and gowns, etc.
• The Carlow Art collection, made up of over 30 large scale paintings, most of which were created by Carlow artists or were items that used to hang in builings on campus.