What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 1pm Sunday 1pm - 5pm

UNC University Archives

Home
United States
Chapel Hill, NC
UNC University Archives

Directions Website Contact the organization

The UNC University Archives is part of the Wilson Special Collections Library.

The University Archives supports education, research, and public service through stewardship of University records and open engagement with the evolving historical record of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Located in the Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library, we are the official repository for the historically valuable, unpublished records of both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the major administrative offices of the UNC System headquartered in Chapel Hill. Records in our holdings date from the chartering of the university in 1789 to the present, and include minute books of the Board of Trustees; correspondence of chancellors, presidents, provosts, and deans; minutes of faculty meetings; files of academic and administrative departments; reports of faculty committees; and records of faculty and student organizations. Please note: Posts and comments to and from the University Archives, in connection with the transaction of public business, are subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

10/30/2026

The Tar Heels and Miami Hurricanes first went head-to-head in 1946. Now, eighty years later, we are preparing for their 12th matchup in Kenan and the first Halloween game played in the stadium since 1970. The Tar Heels are 8-3 against Miami in Chapel Hill.

We added a few notable headlines from UNC-Miami games over the years to this photo from the 1963 game, Miami’s first visit to Kenan Stadium. Carolina enters tomorrow’s game as the underdog, but those who remember the legendary 2004 game, when the Tar Heels upset then #4 Miami, know there’s reason to hope.

Photograph from the 1964 Yackety Yack.
Daily Tar Heel headlines from 1943, 1961, 1963, and 2004.

10/28/2026

It wouldn’t be Halloween without a visit from two of our favorite costumed characters from Carolina’s past: Scary Rameses and Tar Heel Tim. This year, they have traveled around campus in pursuit of tricks and treats, hoping to inspire enterprising students to replicate these unforgettable costumes.

“Scary” Rameses appeared on a float in the 1950 Beat Dook Parade. Photo from the Yackety Yack.

“Tar Heel Tim” was the creation of UNC cheerleader Tim Crimmins and appeared at a couple of football games during the 1975 season. Photo from the November 1975 Alumni Review.

10/26/2026

Chapel Hill’s on-campus golf course officially opened for play on October 24th, 1949. The space was originally cleared by cadets in the Navy Pre-Flight School during World War II. Athletics and manual work were important parts of the curriculum and focused on physical training and collaboration. In 1949, nine of the proposed holes became available for students, faculty, and alumni to play. For 50 cents, students could play on the course which included new greens and a pond.
The course was soon renovated and expanded after a gift from Raleigh businessman Albert E. Finley. According to an article from the A.E. Finley Foundation, Finley’s donation was motivated by his desire to attend the UNC-Notre Dame game in Yankee Stadium that year. After learning that the Carolina golf coach had football tickets reserved for donors, Finley committed funds to renovate the 9-hole course, which was renamed Finley Golf Course in 1950. Finley was also a supporter of N.C. State University and is one of the namesakes of Carter-Finley Stadium.
Since its opening, Finley Golf Course has undergone several renovations, most recently in 2023, to make it one of the premier college facilities in the region.
Photos from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Photographic Laboratory Collection, Wilson Library.

10/20/2026

With over 1,000 student organizations now available to students at Carolina, it’s hard to imagine a new one being particularly newsworthy. In the 1880s, it was a different story. When UNC students started a club to read and discuss the works of Shakespeare, it was reported in papers around the state. This is evidence of a strong interest in university life and shows that a club like this was indeed a new endeavor for Carolina students.
Led by Professor Thomas Hume, the club aimed to stimulate scholarly study of Shakespeare. (The “Shakspeare Club” used one of the alternate spellings of the author’s name.) Over the course of the club’s lifespan, students gathered at Hume’s house to discuss works of he Bard, as well as other non-dramatic literature. Not only did this give students the opportunity to engage their creative minds, clubs like “Shakspere” encouraged camaraderie outside of the classroom. The Shakspere Club met monthly and had a steady group of active participants before disbanding in 1907 upon the retirement of Hume.

08/14/2026

Learn more about the history of UNC on a Carolina History Tour! This semester we’ll be offering regular tours of campus focused on the history of the university: we’ll talk about the founding and growth of Carolina, the stories behind campus landmarks including the Old Well, Davie Poplar, and Unsung Founders Memorial, and much more. We’ll see how much history we can fit into a little over an hour. Registration is required. To sign up, follow the link in our bio or head to go.unc.edu/historytour

06/25/2026

Rameses has always been a hit with the kids. These photos are from a 1990 visit to the Victory Village daycare center. From the Durham Herald-Sun Photo collection, Wilson Library. Rameses

01/23/2026

With the weather we’re expecting it’s going to be a good weekend to stay inside and rely on more analog forms of entertainment. Carolinaopoly anyone? The puzzle and games shown here are part of the North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library.

Any changes to hours as a result of the weather will be shared at library.unc.edu.

11/21/2025

The Beat Dook Parade used to be an annual tradition in downtown Chapel Hill prior to the Carolina-Duke football game. This rare color footage of the parade is from the promotional film "In The Name of Freedom: The Story of Chapel Hill," produced by the university in 1950.

Follow the link in our bio to view the full video.

03/24/2025

On this day in 1993, the Grateful Dead played the first of two sold-out shows at the Dean E. Smith Center. These backstage passes - from the Chapel Hill and other North Carolina Dead shows - are from the Lew Powell collection in the North Carolina Collection Gallery in Wilson Library.

03/04/2025

Did you know that UNC’s school colors come from the Dialectic and Philanthropic societies? The “Di Phi” debating societiers are the oldest student organization at Carolina. In the early days of the university, student diplomas included a ribbon in the color of their society - white for the Philanthropic and light blue for the Dialectic.

This early 19th century diploma, held in Wilson Library, is one of the oldest surviving examples of Carolina Blue.

Address

Wilson Library, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
27514

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 1pm
Sunday	1pm - 5pm

Website

https://library.unc.edu/about/dept/university-libraries/wilson-library/university-archives/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when UNC University Archives posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.