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Campus Planning and Construction: Collections

Resources in the University Archives related to the planning and development of UB's North and South Campuses.
Last Updated: Mar 28, 2024 4:13 PM

Collections

The following collections contain paper records, photographs, maps, architectural drawings and building plans related to campus planning and construction.  Click on the highlighted collection title to see that collection's finding aid.  Tips for locating and using online finding aids can be found on the Searching page of this guide.  All of the University Archives' online finding aids can be searched here.  Paper finding aids are available in the University Archives for collections that are not highlighted.

For assistance, please contact the University Archives at lib-archives@buffalo.edu or (716) 645-2916.

South Campus Records

North Campus Records

Photo Collections

The University Archives holds well over 100,000+ photographs.  Many are grouped by rough subject with coverage mainly from the 1950s-1980s.  Our general photograph collections hold many photographs of individual buildings (some under construction) as well as aerial photos of the North and South Campuses.  Please contact the University Archives for assistance accessing these collections.

Additionally, the University Archives has the following North and South Campus photo collections.  Click on the highlighted collection titles to see that collection's finding aid.  Tips for using online finding aids can be found under the Searching tab of this guide.  All of the University Archives' online finding aids can be searched here.  Paper finding aids for collections that are not highlighted are available in the University Archives.

Architectural Drawings and Plans

The University Archives' collection of architectural drawings and building plans consists primarily of historic drawings and plans of UB buildings and a small number of conceptual drawings of the North Campus and North Campus buildings.. 

Building Plans of university buildings may be accessed with approval of the University at Buffalo Facilities Plan Library.  For permission, please contact Matthew Schery at maschery@buffalo.edu. 

  • 8/4/1189: Miscellaneous South and North Campus Drawings and Maps
  • 8/8/1253: Hayes Hall Historic District Architectural drawings and plans
    • Large versions of the maps, drawings and plans that appear in Hayes Historic District/Adaptive Re-Use Studio (See Additional Resources)
    • Includes architectural drawings and building plans for Hayes Hall, Wende Hall, Townsend Hall and Hayes Hall Annex D
  • 8/9/1007: North Campus Construction Records, 1957-1991
  • 8/9/1169: Concept Development for the Administrative Service Complex
  • 8/9/1170: North Campus Concept Drawings, circa 1970
  • 8/9/1171: Final Phase Development for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • Map Case 3 holds historic building plans for the following South Campus buildings:
    Abbott Hall Diefendorf Hall Parker Hall
    Acheson Hall Farber Hall Rotary Field
    Baird Hall Foster Hall Sherman Hall
    Beck Hall Goodrich Hall Squire Hall
    Buffalo Materials Research Center Goodyear Hall                                    Temporary Buildings                   
    Cary Hall Harriman Hall Tower Hall
    Clark Gymnasium Hayes Hall Townsend Hall
    Clemens Hall MacDonald Hall 77 West Eagle Street
    Crosby Hall MacKay Heating Plant

Building Plans of university buildings may be accessed with approval of the University at Buffalo Facilities Plan Library.  For permission, please contact Matthew Schery at maschery@buffalo.edu. 

Campus Maps

  • 3/0/824: Campus Maps, 1934-present
    • Maps of the South, North and Ridge Lea Campuses
  • 8/4/1189: Miscellaneous South and North Campus Drawings and Maps
    • Box 10: "North Campus Overview, Proposed Land Purchase"
      • A map of a portion of Amherst showing the North Campus Site and separate parcel of land purchased by the UB Faculty Student Association (FSA).
    • Box 15 contains a 1965 topographical map of the North Campus site in eight parts.
  • 8/8/1253: Hayes Hall Historic District Architectural drawings and plans
    • Large versions of the maps, drawings and plans that appear in Hayes Historic District/Adaptive Re-Use Studio (See Additional Resources)
    • Includes maps of the Erie County Almshouse and Hospital from 1856, 1878 and 1909, and the UB South Campus from 1930
  • 8/9/1007: North Campus Construction Records, 1957-1991
    • Maps of the proposed site for the North Campus "Available Land in Desirable Areas", box/folder 1.5
    • Topographical maps of sections of the proposed site for the North Campus, box.folder 1.5
    • North Campus Property Maps, box/folder 1.6
    • Property Maps of the State University of New York at Buffalo Amherst Campus, 1975, box folder 1.7. 
      • This folder contains a map of the North Campus site showing all of the privately owned parcels of land.  The file includes a corresponding chart that lists parcel numbers, former owners and other information about properties purchased by SUNY for UB's North Campus.
      • See also boxes 1-9 of this collection and North Campus Collection 8/1/497: Amherst Land Acquisition
  • 8/9/1375: Amherst Campus Site Resolutions, Maps and Memoranda, 1968-1969

Additional Resources

Websites:

  • UB Campuses.  The University Archives' website for the history of UB's campuses and buildings.

Written works:

  • Belloch, A. [and others]. 1989. Hayes Historic District/Adaptive Re-Use Studio. State University of New York at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.
  • Greiner, William R. and Thomas E. Headrick. 2007. Location Location Location: a Special History of the University of/at Buffalo. Buffalo: Center Working Papers.
    • This book by former UB President William R. Greiner and former UB Provost Thomas E. Headrick explores "the physical evolution of the University and the processes of decision that shaped its growth." 
    • LD701 .B42 G74 2007 [held by multiple UB Libraries].
    • See also collection 3/3/1128:  Location Location Location: a Special History of the University of/at Buffalo, 2007 for some of the source material that was used in the book.
  • Janetakos, Angeline. 1985.  The Amherst Campus of the State University of New York at Buffalo: A Historical Perspective. 
    • Angeline Janetakos' project for her M.S. in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Studies.
    • University Archives (Project S65 1985 J36)
    • See also collection 8/9/997: Amherst Campus: A Historical Perspective.  The collection contains some source material for the project.

Consultant Reports Regarding the Site Selection of UB's Second Campus:

  • "Meeting the Increasing Demand for Higher Education in New York State: A Report to the Governor and Board of Regents" [The Heald Report] 
    • 4/11/581: Presidential Speeches of Robert L. Ketter, 1970-1982, box/folder 17.12.
  • "Alternate Site Study, State University of New York at Buffalo.” [The Moore Report].
    • ​University Archives Vertical History File IV 1E.
  • "Report to the State University of New York: Physical Plant and Campus Development Program for the State University of New York at Buffalo" [The Heldman Report].
  • "Report and Recommendations Concerning Expansion Plans at the State University of New York at Buffalo" [The Gross Report]
    • University Archives Vertical History File IV 1F.
  • "Evaluation of Proposed Sites for the State University of New York at Buffalo" [The Heller Report]
    • University Archives Vertical History File IV 1G