Brief History of the Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomás

The UST Archives, or “AUST” (from its original Spanish name: Archivo de la Universidad de Santo Tomás), is the official repository of the original documents and records related to the University of Santo Tomás since its foundation in 1611. The establishment of the archives was integral to the University’s identity as a center of higher learning and ecclesiastical authority in Asia. It served not only to document the administrative functions of the institution but also to preserve the academic, cultural, and religious life of the University throughout centuries of transformation.

These holdings may be broadly categorized into several types: student records, institutional records, collateral publications, plans and maps, drawings and photographs, and Dominican ministries. Historically, the materials have been classified into Becerros, or documents bound in leather covers; Libros, books whether printed or in manuscript form; Folletos, pamphlets; and other smaller divisions. Among its most notable items are the student records of national hero Dr. José Rizal, as well as manuscripts and early printed materials from the Spanish colonial period. Such documents provide valuable insight into the cultural and intellectual development of the Philippines and make AUST one of the most important archival collections in the country.

From the founding of the University until the early 1930s, the archives were kept on the original campus in Intramuros. After the completion of the new campus in Sampaloc—specifically the Main Building in 1927 and the Seminary in 1933—the collection was transferred from its ancient home and housed on the ground floor of the Seminary Building. This timely relocation providentially saved the archives from destruction during the Battle of Manila in 1945, which left much of Intramuros in ruins. In 1966, the records were moved to the fourth floor of the Seminary. Later, in 1993—coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the introduction of the printing press in the Philippines—the Archives was relocated to the fourth floor of the Miguel de Benavides Library. Finally, in July 2012, the AUST moved once more to its current home on the fifth floor of the same building.

Today, the UST Archives continues to play a vital role in historical research and cultural preservation. It has adopted modern archival and conservation practices, and it supports the work of scholars from the Philippines and around the world. In recent years, it has also undertaken digitization efforts to ensure greater accessibility and long-term preservation of fragile documents. As it preserves the legacy of Asia’s oldest existing university, the AUST stands as a guardian of memory, identity, and scholarship.