The Villanova University Archives is located on the fourth floor of Falvey Memorial Library. Patrons are encouraged to call, write, or e-mail before their visit to assume that materials will be available. Potential researchers should contact the University Archives at (610) 519-4133.

The University Archives collects and preserves non-current university records having permanent value and makes them available to the Villanova University community and the public as stated in the Villanova University Archives Collection Development Policy. It also serves as the official repository for the University's non-current records and provides management of records assistance to the offices and departments of the University through its policies and guidelines.

Every office is faced with the problem of minimal storage space and must make decisions on which records to discard and which to retain. The creation, maintenance, storage and final disposition of records for Villanova University impose serious responsibilities. Employees of Villanova University create, receive and use or destroy records each day. Many of these records are of such importance that they must be kept permanently; some are useful only for a specified time. It is important to note that not all records appropriately belong in the Archives. Current (active) records that are referenced frequently should be retained in the office of origin. In contrast, non-current (inactive) records of historical, administrative, legal, and/or fiscal value to Villanova University should be sent to the University Archives for permanent preservation when no longer useful in the daily management of an office.

It is the responsibility of the University Archives to document the operations, policies, and programs of Villanova University, by preserving administrative and academic records, reports, photographs, organizational files, all University publications and numerous other documentary materials. In effect, the University Archives serve as the institutional memory of the University.

It is through the cooperation and support of the administrative offices, deans, directors of programs, institutes, centers, department chairpersons, faculty, staff, students, officers of University organizations, and alumni/ae in this endeavor that materials of historical, administrative, legal and/or fiscal value can be collected and preserved.