Research Services
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
The Archives Center welcomes visitors to the Shelby Whine and Leon Levy Reading Room to access original materials in-person. 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 Reading Room is open to the general public Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All visitors to the campus are required to follow the Institute for Advanced Study COVID-19 Policies. Institute for Advanced Study community members that have already provided proof-of-vaccination are welcome for individual study without a reservation or appointment. Visitors outside of the Institute community are currently required to schedule an appointment in advance to help ensure compliance. We welcome visitors to schedule appointments 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.