Search

The University of Central Florida Commencement Video collection, 1989-2005 contains video recordings of graduation ceremonies for Fall, Spring, and Summer terms at the University of Central Florida (UCF) between the years of 1998 and 2005 on video cassettes and DVDs. The commencement video recordings document these events and provide audiovisual evidence of the university's traditions, leadership, and graduating classes over time. The University of Central Florida (UCF), founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University (FTU), holds commencement ceremonies to recognize and celebrate the academic achievements of its graduates after each Fall, Spring, and Summer semester. Commencements have taken place in the Orlando Municipal Auditorium, inside a drained Reflection Pond, outside Trevor Colbourn Hall, and the Addition Financial Arena. These ceremonies confer degrees and honor student accomplishments. Past commencement speakers include astronaut John Young in 1970 and United States President Richard Nixon in 1973.

Florida Technological University, now the University of Central Florida, set out in 1968 to create a program of nursing that would be accessible to students in Central Florida. This collection contains the correspondence, minutes, and curriculum pertaining to the creation and implementation of the Department of Nursing at UCF. In 1995, the Department of Nursing became the School of Nursing and in 2007, the school became the College of Nursing, which is the university's eleventh college.

This collection is organized in one chronological series and seven subseries that includes items such as constitutional revisions, meeting minutes, surveys, analyses, reports and correspondence as well as many other miscellaneous senate documents.

The Library collection documents the history of the John C. Hitt library. There are several subseries pertaining to different leaders, committees, and departments found within the library. This collection contains photographs, negatives, CDs, VHSs, and documents.

The University of Central Florida Memorabilia collection, 1965-2020 documents University of Central Florida (UCF) events and activities, such as such as homecoming, various sporting events, building dedications, and university anniversaries. It chiefly contains a variety of memorabilia, including t-shirts, cups, glassware, buttons, pins, programs, plaques, and other commemorative objects related to UCF students, alumni, faculty, staff, and university presidents. It also includes memorabilia from UCF's early days as Florida Technological University. The Pegasus Seal, the university's emblem, is featured on many objects, including those created when the university was named Florida Technological University. This artificial collection was brought together by UCF Special Collections & University Archives staff over time from various known and unknown sources. Items continue to be added as they are collected. Originally named Florida Technological University, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public multi-campus, metropolitan research university. Florida Technological University (FTU) was founded in 1963 by the State of Florida to provide educated professionals to work in the growing space program. Building began in 1967 and classes started in 1968. Charles N. Millican served as the founding president. His successor, H. Trevor Colbourn, started the university's football program. In 1978, FTU's name was officially changed to UCF. Steven Altman presided over the university from 1989-1991. John C. Hitt served as president from 1992 until 2018. Dale Whittaker was UCF's fifth president from 2018 to 2019. Alexander Cartwright became the university's president in 2020.

The Mr. and Miss UCF pageants aim to give students scholarship opportunities as well as help promote community engagement. This collection contains photographs, programs, DVDs, and documents surrounding the Mr. and Miss UCF competitions. There is also material relating to the Miss Florida, Miss America, and different county pageants.

Academic year programs for faculty, student, and guest artist performances from the UCF Music Department.

The University of Central Florida News and Information records, 1974-2018, contains materials from the Office of News and Information relating to UCF's history, achievements, finances, presidents, faculty, departments, entities, and partnerships. This collection provides researchers with insight into UCF-related history, news, and news reporting. The University of Central Florida Office of News and Information, now defunct, disseminated news about the University to the media. It was founded in 1968 as the Public Relations department. That same year, the department was renamed the Department of Public Information. In 1979, it was briefly renamed the Office of Information Services before becoming the Office of Public Affairs the following year. In 1997, the department was renamed the Office of Public Relations and renamed News and Information three years later in 2000. In 2026, the Office of Strategic Communications does similar work with the media.

This collection contains booklets, magazines, pamphlets, and invitations relating to the fraternity and sorority life at UCF.

The University of Central Florida Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives Records collection, 2001-2013, contains presentations from the Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives. It mainly consists of printed and recorded presentations, newspaper clippings, VHS tapes, and CDs, relating to the Global Perspectives & International Initiatives office. This collection provides insight into the presentations and projects that the Global Perspectives & International Initiatives office led and participated in. The UCF Office of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives was founded to support students and offices on campus with international activities and learning. They also collaborate with national and international partners on projects, research, events, and initiatives. The focus of this work being on the study of modern slavery, human trafficking, diplomacy, and other foreign affairs.