The Loyola University Chicago Archives & Special Collections is home to approximately 15,000 linear feet of archival collections and over 21,000 rare books. Archival collections include the unviersity archives with records documenting Loyola's administration, schools and colleges, and departments and programs; and special collections including Samuel Insull and related collections; Jesuit educators;  Catholic organizations; Chicago history; political cartoons; and the papers of former U.S. Congressmen Dan Rostenkowski and Henry J. Hyde. Special Collections include the Rare Book Collection; Jesuitica Collection; an Edward Gorey collection; history of Medicine collection;and the Michalak 19th century British caricature and satire collection.

 University Records

University records are organized by their creating office, whether it is the office of the President or the History department. The A to Z: University Archives list is arranged according to College/School and department, and provides links to finding aids for those records that are open for research. Not all university records are available for research and not all finding aids for available collections are online. 

 Special Collections

Special Collections areas focus on Samuel Insull; Catholic organizations; Jesuit educators; entertainment arts; faculty papers; political cartoons; satire and caricature; Edward Gorey; and government and politics. The A to Z: Special Collections list provides links to finding aids for those collections that are open for research.

 Collections by Subject

Another way to locate archival collections is by using the Collections by Subject guide. Here, university records and special collections have been gathered together according to subjects found in the materials. Links to finding aids for collections open for research are included on each subject page.

 Rare Book Collection

The Rare Book Collection comprises approximately 21,000 volumes and is especially strong in the areas of British and American History, 19th century British and American Literature, Religion and Theology, Philosophy, and Drama. There are over 15 languages in the collection. Named sections of the collection include the Edward Cudahy Jesuitica Collection, the Michalak Collection, the Mandell Collection, the St. Ignatius College Library Collection, and the Whittingham Chiswick Press Collection.

Digitization of items from the Rare Book Collection is an on-going project.

 Oral History Collections

The oral history collections focus on Loyola University Chicago, Latinos in Chicago, Irish immigrants to Chicago, Chicago Public School teachers, and retired Cook County Circuit Court Judges. Not all interviews are transcribed and restrictions may apply to some interviews.

Digitization and transcription of oral histories is an on-going project.

Photograph Collections

The photograph collections cover Loyola University Chicago; Loyola Academy, when it was on the Lake Shore Campus; churches built or supported by the Catholic Church Extension Society; and ancient Greek and Roman sites.

Digitization of photograph collections is an on-going project.