This Collection is now entering Phase 2, which will cover the period 1996-2010. The first phase (from the late 1800s to 1995) was supported by the President's Fund for research into the history of the University of Galway since its foundation in 1845. By May 2026, the archive contained over 400 images, ranging from the late nineteenth century to 1995. Under Phase 2, which is supported by the President of the University, Professor David Burn, images from the early days of the University up to and including 2010 will be integrated into one cohesive archive. 

The items in the Collection relate to the University in diverse ways, illustrating its formal occasions, connections to the city of Galway and the region, the life stories of its students and staff, and its changing environment. The Collection is made possible by the generous response of retired staff, friends and relations, and alumni, who loan their photos and videos and share their recollections. It highlights the importance of students' and staff's individual, and sometimes unexpected, perspectives in capturing the lived experience of university life. With few exceptions, the images are from private collections and have not previously been publicly available. Together with the personal memories and research that accompany them, they contribute to the social and institutional history of a period of significant change in university education in Ireland.