About the University Archives

University Archives is a University history collection that includes information about Cal Poly Humboldt as well as materials published by the University.

The first thing many people ask is why the University is called "Humboldt." The short answer is that both the University and the County were named for the naturalist, geographer and statesman, Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859). (No, he never set foot in Humboldt County.) A longer answer can be found in the Profile of Baron Alexander von Humboldt, first published in the Humboldt STATEments in 1969 and reprinted in 1978.

There is a painting of the Baron on the first floor of the Library and a copy of the lithograph Alexander von Humboldt in his Library is displayed in Special Collections. Cal Poly Humboldt was host to the first Alexander von Humboldt Conference in 2001.

Visit the Humboldt State University Centennial Celebration website for additional campus history and photographs.