The records in the collection reflect the Department's mission and its daily operations. The materials contained within it include exhibition proposals, catalogs and posters, photographs, general correspondence, and other administrative files.

The Historical Photo Collection contains images of persons, events, and activities associated with Columbia College (1754-1896) and Columbia University (1896-).

Collection of black and white photographs depicting campus activities, individuals, and student life taken by John K. Mladinov, an undergraduate student enrolled at Columbia University between 1939 and 1942.

This collection contains photographs and contact sheets of alumni, faculty and student life taken expressly for a 1980s admissions brochure, capital campaign brochures in the 1990s and the Columbia alumni magazine in the 1980s through early 2000s. Additionally, there are reproductions of photographs and illustrations dating prior to the late 1970s which were used in the magazine.