ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2025 Host Committee Blog

Nestled in the heart of Old Town Orange, Chapman university was founded as Hesperian College in 1861, named Chapman College in 1934, and became Chapman University in 1991. From the very beginning, Chapman University was open to all people in the belief that every person should have access to an education.

Chapman University’s Special Collections and Archives boasts over 16,000 rare and antiquarian books, emphasizing fine and California presses, modern first editions, and archives that capture the history of Southern California local communities. Highlights include the Huell Howser Archives, Center for American War Letters Archives, as well as a first edition of the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493), artist’s books, Mendez v. Westminster Collection materials, Disney memorabilia, and more.

While our Sunday repository tour is currently full, the Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections & Archives are open Monday-Friday 9am – 12pm and 1pm – 4pm if you’d like to stop by on your own!