Preservation of Games & Game Culture

Although games and play have been central to the human experience (and non-human experience!) for millennia, they have too often been treated as naturally ephemeral. With the recent growth of games as a topic of study in academic contexts, libraries and other institutions have begun to invest in something that hobbyist collectors have long practiced—the archiving and preservation of game history and culture. This page highlights ways that University of Chicago Libraries support teaching, research, and play.

University of Chicago Library Videogame Collection

In many ways, digital game studies at the University of Chicago began with the 2012 launch of a circulating library collection devoted to videogames. As of 2025, this collection includes over 600 games spanning nearly 50 years of game history. By providing access to games in their original, historic forms, this collection supports game-related research, course instruction, and recreational play on campus.

The University of Chicago Library also circulates a range of game studies-related print materials through its general collection, including historical periodicals and academic publications. To learn more about these and other library resources, visit the Games at UChicago library guide!

Games Cultural Objects Collection

A second library collection dedicated to preserving games culture was established in 2024: the Games Cultural Objects Collection. Digital games currently provide a rare opportunity preserve historical traces of the early decades of an art form within the living memory of those who experienced it firsthand. One way to capture what videogames have meant over the last half century is through the preservation of “ephemeral” objects like toys and other merchandising. Another is through the preservation of fan-produced materials. The Games Cultural Objects Collection was launched with these sorts of materials in mind, and with a goal of preserving the histories and experiences of individuals and groups who are often overlooked in historical narratives. This collection was established through the generous support of the John Crerar Foundation and will support the instructional and research goals of the University.

Board Game and Videogame Console Collections

For information on the University of Chicago’s collections of board, card, and other tabletop games and game hardware, visit the Arts Labs at the MADD Center page of the

Exhibits

University Libraries have also supported games and play on campus through exhibits in the Special Collections Research Center and throughout library spaces. See below for a selection of past exhibits and visit this website’s “Events” tab for information on the many exhibits happening across campus as part of the Year of Games!