The Corcoran board of trustees donated the institution’s collection of archives – documents covering nearly 150 years of D.C. cultural history – to GW’s libraries this month, according to a release.

The archives include about 2,000 boxes of historical documents, drawings, posters, photographs and ledgers and have been unavailable to researchers for almost a decade due to lack of funding.

Geneva Henry, the dean of libraries and academic innovation, said in the release that the University has been “excited” about receiving the archives since the merger was announced in February 2014.

“The Corcoran is an iconic organization with a rich history and these archives tell the story of not only the arts, but of the city of Washington, D.C.,” Henry said. “Access to them is highly anticipated. We have been fielding research requests and the availability of the archives will now provide fascinating insight for researchers into the Corcoran.”

The archives tell the story of the Corcoran from its founding in 1869 until the merge with GW. They will be available to the public through Gelman Library’s Special Collections Research Center, according to the release.

Sanjit Sethi, the director of the Corcoran School of Art and Design, said in the release that obtaining the archives is significant to the Corcoran’s evolution at GW.

“These archives are part of our living history,” Sethi said in the release. “In these boxes lies a history that can be activated by students, faculty, researchers and community members. People who take the time to decipher, analyze and interpret this information can both gain valuable insight into a remarkable institution and help shape the Corcoran’s future.”