Only a few items remain from the earliest years of the college, from 1830-1846, when it was a diocesan college under the the supervision of Bishop Michael Portier. But many documents exist from the early years of the Jesuits' time at the college.

Prominent among these early Jesuit items are:

• Diaries of the Vice-President and the Minister of the Jesuit Community beginning in 1847

• Handwritten registrations of students, entered upon their first appearance, which frequently give the names and addresses of their parents.

• College Catalogues from 1847, though not every year is preserved

• Student publications from as far back as 1891, consistently from 1900

Files are maintained on outstanding students.  Files are also maintained on campus buildings and grounds.  Thousands of photographs are preserved, but most of them are as yet unsorted and uncatalogued.  (Many are in albums, so that span of years can be assigned.) 

Notable subjects include the world famous chess player of the 19th century, Paul Morphy, an alumnus, and Albert Foley, S.J., a professor of Sociology at the college made famous for his activities in the civil rights movement.