Perhaps the most lasting effect of America's bicentennial was to encourage individuals and organizations to think more carefully of preserving and making available their historically valuable records. Consistent with this spirit, the American Catholic Church pursued active steps to ensure that its archival records would receive a higher priority than in years past. By 1974, a special committee had prepared and submitted a "Document of Ecclesiastical Archives." It would serve as the cornerstone for Catholic Archives from the mid-1970s onward. Of the many dioceses responding to the need to take better care of the records in their custody, some added support to established archival operations. Others either initiated programs or investigated and implemented alternatives. This study examines the special arrangement between Kent State University and the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio. Among its purposes is that of providing a model for other public institutions and dioceses that may wish to consider entering a similar arrangement.