Note: Institutional Archives Collections are available by appointment only.

1. The researcher must submit a completed Application for access to the archival collections form, describing the research project and indicating the collections to be consulted. The researcher will fill out a separate registration form for each research project.

2. Collections may be unavailable for research due to: incomplete organization or description; possible violation of right to privacy of living authors or correspondents; or The Art Institute of Chicago's reservation of first rights to publication of current projects. Additional restrictions may be imposed on sensitive documents or series in the museum and school archives (i.e. current transactions, legal issues and personnel matters) in order to protect the legitimate proprietary rights of the institution.

3. The researcher agrees to indemnify and hold harmless The Art Institute of Chicago, its officers and employees, from and against all claims and actions arising out of the researcher's use of the documents.

4. Permission to examine manuscript material does not automatically include the right to photocopy. The Art Institute may decline a request for photocopies because the materials are oversize; too fragile; or fall outside the "fair use" standard. All photocopy requests must be approved by library or archives staff and a copyright disclosure statement signed. Prepayment is required for all photocopy orders. The researcher may request slides or photographs from archival collections: the above-listed limitations on photocopying also apply to copy photography requests.

5. The archival material must be consulted in the assigned locations in the Library reading room or the Archives office, depending on the collection, and may at no time be removed. No smoking, eating or drinking is allowed in these areas.

6. Only pencils can be used for note taking. No pens, ink, erasable ink or self-stick removable notes may be used. Tracing from or writing on archival materials is not permitted. Typewriters, word processors or tape recorders may be used, but they are not supplied by The Art Institute.

7. The researcher must use extreme care when handling the material. Many items are fragile, valuable and/or irreplaceable. Please report any mutilations. Some collections can be consulted in microform copy only in order to ensure preservation of the original documents. When handling photographic material (i.e. prints, negatives, lantern slides) cotton gloves must be worn at all times. Staff will provide these gloves, returnable at the end of each day.

8. The researcher may use only one archival box at a time. The researcher is expected to preserve the existing arrangement of the material within folders and boxes. If anything appears to be misfiled, the researcher should not attempt to correct it, but call it to the attention of the Archivist.

Send comments regarding this information to archives@artic.edu Archives Department, (312) 443-4777.

If you are researching an art related topic, Beginning Your Art or Architecture Research can get you started.