In 1984 the Rectorate decided to establish a central archive and requested a position for an archivist.

Until 1998, when the University of Zurich became an independent institution under public law, its holdings had regularly been transferred to the State Archives of the Canton of Zürich.

The collection of the Documentation Centre for University History was acquired by the UZH Archives after its dissolution in 1998.

The first section holds the historical archives, consisting of minutes of the departments, habilitation theses, diploma duplicates and personal files of the lecturers.

The second section − the ″new″ archives based on provenance − contains minutes of the University Directorate and Senate as well as various fonds of the Rectorate, the Dean's Offices, Central Services and Departments or Institutes.