This discussion of the establishment of the archives at Fitchburg State College, an institution with an enrollment of 3,700, provides details on the background of the project, approval process, literature search, planning, collection development, continuing publicity efforts, and facilities. Useful items found through the literature search are listed as references. The appended Fitchburg State College Archives manual presents the purpose, objectives, rationale, administrative structure, definitions and guidelines, and processing procedures for the archives, and also details specific procedures pertaining to archival special collections. Forms designed to collect statistics, document the processing and exhibition of material, and record donor information are also included. (KM)