****Annoucement: Additional Reference Hours****
From May 28th-August 1st both Archives Center reference locations will be open Monday through Thursday.
Hours:
Archives Center Reference Room, National Museum of American History
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Building 19, Garber Facility, Suitland Maryland
9:45 am to 3:00 pm
******************************************************************************************************
Reference services are available in our small reading room on the first floor of the National Museum of American History and at the off-site location in Suitland, Maryland. Seating is limited. Researchers must make appointments two weeks in advance of planned visits. We also strongly urge all researchers to contact the Archives Center to discuss their research needs prior to scheduling an appointment and visiting so that we can ensure space and collections availability.
Please note: Reference services have changed significantly in order to accommodate access to the collections off-site and in the Museum.
Location, Days, Hours:
Archives Center Reference Room, National Museum of American History
Monday and Tuesday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Building 19, Garber Facility, Suitland Maryland
Wednesday and Thursday, 9:45 am to 3:00 pm
Scheduling Appointments:
All appointments must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. To request an appointment send an email to archivescenter@si.edu . Please be as specific as possible about your research topic and/or the collections you hope to use. To learn about the collections search the Smithsonian's on-line cataloguing system SIRIS before contacting the Archives Center to schedule an appointment.
Research at the Archives Center Reading Room (Mondays and Tuesdays)
Researchers should enter the National Museum of American History through the South Wing Staff Entrance (Directions here). Non-Smithsonian researchers will need to sign in, obtain a temporary visitors badge, and be escorted by an Archives Center staff member.
- Researchers may bring computers and use cameras to take digital notes. There is currently NO wifi available.
- A copier is available for self-service photocopying. Copies are $.25/page (10 free copies a year). Payment by cash, check or credit card.
Research at Building 19, Garber Facility, Suitland Maryland (Wednesdays and Thursdays)
- Please Note: The Archives Center's reading room in Building 19 is more than a quarter of a mile walk from the entrance to the Garber facility. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
- When scheduling an appointment please inform the staff if you need assistance to reach Building 19.
- Researchers may bring computers and use cameras to take digital notes. There is currently NO wifi available.
- A copier is available for self-service photocopying. Copies are $.25/page (10 free copies a year). Payment by check or credit card only.
- Researchers will be required to break from 12:00 to 1:00. Researchers should bring lunch and/or snacks. A refrigerator and microwave are available for use in Building 19.
Getting to Building 19, Garber Facility (3904 Old Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland, 20746)
There are three ways to reach the Garber Facility, located in Suitland, Maryland, approximately six miles southeast of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall.
• Take the Smithsonian's free hourly shuttle bus service between the Mall and Garber. Researchers using this service must take the shuttle which stops on the Mall side (Madison Drive) of the National Museum of American History (NMAH) at 9:00 am and arrives at Garber about 30 minutes later. Contact the Archives Center for specific instructions for taking the shuttle.
• Drive to the facility: Free parking is available. For more details contact the Archives Center.
• Take public transportation: Available via Metrorail (green line); the Garber Facility is a 10-15 minute walk from the Suitland Station. For more details see www.wmata.com
For further details, see Visiting the Archives Center, or contact the Archives Center's reference desk at 202-633-3270 or at archivescenter@si.edu
******************************************************************************************************
Visiting the Archives Center
The temporary Archives Center reading room is in a non public area of the National Museum of American History. Researchers must enter the building through the staff entrance (South Wing) and be escorted to the reading room by Archives Center staff.
Street Address:
Archives Center
National Museum of American History
14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20560-0601
(202) 633-3270
(202) 357-1729 TDD
(202)
312-1990
FAX
Email: archivescenter@si.edu
HOURS:
Archives Center Reference Room, National Museum of American History
Monday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Building 19, Garber Facility, Suitland Maryland
Wednesday, 9:45 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday, 9:45 am to 3:00 pm
Friday - CLOSED
Appointments are required.
To schedule an appointment and for further information, please email (archivescenter@si.edu) or call 202-633-3270. Email is preferred.
Before You Come
- Confirm the Archives Center has the materials you need.
- Search SIRIS (www.siris.si.edu), the Smithsonian Institution’s on-line catalogue.
- Email or call (202-633-3270) to consult with an archivist and to make an appointment. Email is preferred.
- Make separate arrangements with the curatorial staff to do research in the Museum's artifact collections.
Getting Started
- Complete the Archives Center registration form.
- First-time researchers must view a four-minute orientation powerpoint (with sound) when they arrive at the Archives Center or Play it now » (74 MB file).
- Laptops and cameras are allowed in the reference room.
- Folders and notebooks may not be taken into the reference room.
- Consult with the reference archivist if you need to bring notes into the reference room.
Conducting Research
- Pencils and paper for note taking are provided.
- Review the appropriate printed finding aids.
- To request materials complete the container form provided.
- Consult with the reference archivist if you find fragile, torn or damaged documents.
- Researchers do their own photocopying using the copiers in the reference room. Copies cost $.25/page (Ten free pages each fiscal year).
- Personal scanners are not allowed. The reference room staff can provide information on how to obtain scans.
- Researchers using personal cameras must complete a reproduction/use request. The reference archivist on duty can provide additional information.
- Inform the reference archivist if you need to leave the reading room for any reason.
Before You Leave for the Day
- Pay the reference archivist for your photocopies; receipts are provided. The Archives Center accepts cash, checks, and credit cards.
- Turn in your container form and check out with the reference archivist.
TOP
