Introduction

The University Archives contributes to the institution's educational mission by enriching the lives of the campus community. Thus, archives should support teaching and learning and assist scholars and the general public in using documents to understand and explain the past. (Maher, 1992)

The University Archives of UPM was stipulated in the organizational structure of the University Library (UL) when it was established in 1987. As stated in the University Library Organic Act, 1991, “ The University Archives and Records Depository (UPMARD) shall collect, organize and maintain archival and official records including artworks of the constituents university”.

The Virtual Archives (VA) is based from Ms. Caasi's project proposal presented during their committee meeting on the Chancellor Padilla's special project, "UP Manila Historical Buildings" on July 19, 2019. This project entitled, "Establishment of Archive Gallery to Showcase the UP Manila Libraries Historical Treasures from the 20th Century Onwards", aims to increase the academic community’s interest and understanding of UP Manila's archival collections from the 20th century onwards through the use of web-based repository and exhibit.

The VA is basically the UPMARD official website that introduces a wide range of archival collections preserved and maintained for historical researches of UPM users.

Its main goal is to make open accessibility to bibliographic citations of archival records and selected publications of the UPM that are freely available in digital form with copyright restrictions on their use.