Research Services

Archives Closure Alert: Effective April 28, 2025, the Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center will be temporarily closed for the renovation of Historical Studies-Social Science Library. Researchers with questions may contact Archives Center staff at archives@ias.edu for more information on virtual services available during the renovation.

Requesting General Research Services
The Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center staff provide research services to the general public. Our archivists have expertise in a wide-variety of topics connected to archives and primary-source research. We welcome general questions regarding research, collections, and procedures via our Reference Request Form or via e-mail at archives@ias.edu. 

Accessing Collections On-Site
Located in the Historical Studies-Social Science Library on the Institute for Advanced Study campus, the Shelby White and Leon Levy Reading Room provides users with a comfortable space to access original materials and conduct individual study. 

The Archives Center welcomes visitors to the Shelby White and Leon Levy Reading Room to access original materials in-person. The Reading Room is open to the general public Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  In order to schedule an appointment please contact the Archives Center via our Reference Request Form or via e-mail at archives@ias.edu. 

Requesting Archival Displays and Celebrating Community History
Institute for Advanced Study community members sometimes express interest in featuring items from the Institute’s history as a part of campus events, conferences, and activities. The Archives Center welcomes such requests for collaboration and are happy to create specialized exhibitions, displays, and pop-ups for the broader campus. Contact the Institute for Advanced Study Archivist directly for further details.

Requesting Permission to Publish or Reproduce Archival Holdings
We frequently receive questions regarding copyright and permissions to reproduce the contents of our collections. In order to help researchers navigate copyright and intellectual property questions, we have created a Guide to Permissions and Copyright for Special Collections as a helpful first step. Those who have additional questions regarding specific cases are welcome to contact the Archives Center staff via our Reference Request Form or via e-mail at archives@ias.edu.