The Butler University Buildings and Grounds Collection includes text materials (correspondence, documents, ephemera, publications), images (illustrations, photographs), and architectural plans relating to buildings and grounds owned by, used by, or associated with Butler University, circa 1855–present.

These buildings and grounds were or are associated with one of Butler University’s historical—and present—campuses, including its first location at College Avenue on the near-north side of Indianapolis from circa 1855–1878 (13th Street and College Avenue), its second in the small town of Irvington just east of Indianapolis from 1878–1928 (approximately Emerson Avenue, Butler Avenue, and two railroads), and its current campus on the northwest side of Indianapolis (approximately Hampton Drive, Sunset Avenue, 52nd Street, and the Central Canal).

The materials in this collection were collected and compiled by the department of Special Collections, Rare Books, and University Archives at Butler University and include secondary and primary sources such as research files, correspondence on building construction and dedication planning, ephemera related to building ceremonies and events, building specification documents, preliminary campus plans and surveys, photographs and depictions of construction and changes to buildings over time, and select architectural plans.

This artificial collection is in an active state of processing: materials are actively being received and added into the collection, and this collection guide will be updated to reflect such additions. Revisions to this collection guide are to be expected in the near future. Special Collections, Rare Books, and University Archives holds materials that are currently a part of the collection but decided that the priority was to publish a collection guide with the majority of the original collection for research purposes. The main additions to be added to this collection guide include: oversized text materials; oversized photographs; negatives; and slides.