If you have materials that you are interested in donating or transferring to the NCAR Archives, please contact us.

Collecting Policy

 We collect materials that document the mission and work of NCAR/UCAR in the following areas:

• Scientific research
• Support functions that facilitate research
• Supercomputing
• Effects of weather and climate on society
• Contributions to the field of science 
• Education and training services
• Community building
• Using science for the betterment of humankind and society
• Administration records that document the above activities
• The personal and professional papers of some scientists, engineers, administrators, and program staff

It is the responsibility of our staff to acquire and appraise records of enduring value, to arrange and describe them, to preserve and retain them, and to make such records available for reference by NCAR/UCAR staff and the general public.  Following deposit and during the cataloging process, we will evaluate the collection and identify any materials not required for permanent preservation. Disposition will be arranged with the agreement of the depositor. 

Records of enduring value shall be defined as all records—in any media or format, including electronic—that have lasting administrative and/or historical value. In the aggregate, such records will document both the organization and its activities. These records of enduring value, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Annual reports, correspondence, reports and planning documents, minutes, subject files, and other significant documents
• Annual budget final reports
• Reports of research projects
• Staff biographical information
• Minutes, memoranda, and reports of governing bodies, committees, and scientific research teams
• Audio-visual materials documenting the history of NCAR/UCAR, including photographs, slides, presentations, films, audio and videotapes, and digital media
• Maps, prints, and architectural drawings documenting physical changes and site development
• Ephemera and other memorabilia, such as awards, fragments of buildings, NCAR or field project t-shirts, etc. 
• Webpages

We do not accept:

• Financial transaction documents, such as cancelled checks, credit card slips, invoices, ledger reports, petty cash vouchers and/or receipts, and any non-final budget reports (including budget requests)
• Travel records, including vouchers, itineraries, receipts, etc.
• Finance and Administration records
• Records that for reasons of confidentiality and/or legality that are permanently closed to access—all restrictions must be defined and must expire within 30 years of deposit
• Secondary/Personal reference materials, such as articles, clippings, conference materials, published books, journals, etc. unless directly relevant to the donor or collection
• Multiple copies (more than two) of any publication, program, flier, form, etc.
• Rare books or three-dimensional artifacts unless they are extremely relevant to the history of the institution
• Personal financial statements, retirement account documents, medical records, etc.

NCAR Archives Records Transfer Form (and more guidance on historical materials):