On the first floor of the Ellender Memorial Library is a room many do not know exists, the Archives and Special Collections Department.

Clifton Theriot, archivist and associate professor, is the keeper of these collections that contain photographs, documents and memorabilia. The collections range from original Civil War letters from southern soldiers to more than 2,000 comic books.

The Archives features seven main collections stored in both the Reading Room and the Archives Stack in the department. It also features a temporary collection displayed in the Ellender room just outside the Reading Room.

The largest collection in the department is the “Papers of Senator Allen J. Ellender,” whom the University’s library was named after. “We have over 2,000 boxes of his office files from when he was senator,” Theriot said. The files date from the year Ellender was sworn into office in 1937 until his death in 1972.

One of the more popular collections is the Evangeline Baseball League Collection. It includes photos, clippings and other memorabilia of the history of minor league baseball.

The Regional and Rare Books Collection contains original titles dating back to the 11th century-first editions and autographed copies that are of local or national significance.

Church and parish records, ship passenger listings and regional genealogical journals make up the Genealogy Collection, which is a great source for people who would like to find out more about their family history.

For Nicholls enthusiasts, the Archives holds past yearbooks, class bulletins, past editions of The Nicholls Worth, photographs, films and other items that tell the story of the growth of Nicholls from a junior college in 1948 to the University it is today. “Last year was Nicholls’ 60th anniversary, so we were able to display our Nicholls collection to celebrate it,” Theriot said.

The Manuscript Division consists of a blend of unique historical resources. This includes business records, store ledgers, diaries, scrapbooks and many other documents related to individuals and organizations in South Central Louisiana.

The most interesting collection held in the Archives is the Historical Photograph Collection. Anyone can flip through an album and take a glimpse into Thibodaux’s past.

Each semester, the Archives showcases a collection in the Ellender room. Daniel Lirette’s comic book collection is currently on display. The Thibodaux resident has collected about 14,000 comic books, action figures and photographs. Some items date back to the 1950s.

The next collection the department is going to showcase will commemorate Thibodaux Playhouse’s 50th anniversary and will be displayed throughout the spring semester.

Almost all of the items in these collections are donated, making each collection unique and available for viewing exclusively at the library.

However, though unique, they go unnoticed by many students.

University Prep classes take a tour of the library, and one of the stops on the tour is the Archives; yet, many students seem to forget it is there.

“I’ve been on this campus for three years, and I’ve never heard of the Archives,” Alex Chustz, geomatics junior from New Roads said.

Theriot believes this is because students do not have enough time in their day to stop by, sit down and take a look at the collections. “Most students come to the library to study and then leave,” Theriot said. “That’s why many students don’t know this room exists.”

According to Theriot, the majority of people who visit the Archives are older residents of Thibodaux. He said they have the time and the will to look through the collections.

The students who know about the room take full advantage of the quiet setting and research opportunities the Archives has to offer. “It’s a great place to study by yourself,” Harley Cortez, mass communication senior said. “It’s very quiet, and if you need to take a study break, you can look at the display.”

Theriot hopes to see more students take advantage of the Archives and what it can offer as far as entertainment and research. “I believe the Archives may be one of the best-kept secrets in the University. It’s definitely the most interesting part of the library,” Theriot said.

Each collection in the Archives department has a story to tell, and there are many untold stories waiting for someone to listen.