Every object in the permanent collection of the Saint Louis Art Museum has a document file or is included in a group document file. This includes files for objects that have been deaccessioned, which means they were once in the collection but have been removed, transferred to another museum or sold at auction. The document files (referred to as "Doc Files") contain materials such as general research, correspondence, photographs, and conservation reports that are specific to the particular object.
The files are arranged by accession number, which is the unique identifying number for each work of art in the collection. The accession numbers are assigned by the year the object was acquired and the order in which the object came in the collection. For example, the first object that came into the collection in 2024 was given the accession number 1:2024. The collection started in 1909 and objects have been accessioned every year since then.
Public Hours of Operation:
The Doc Files are open by appointment only Tuesday-Friday, 10:00am–12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm. One week’s notice is recommended for consulting object document files. Staff also respond to reference inquiries received by telephone and email.
Location:
The Doc Files are located in a non-public access area of the Museum campus, separate from the Richardson Memorial Library and Museum Archives. Staff escort is required to visit.
When accessing the document files, it is important to know that the files cannot be removed from the space. They can only be accessed at the research cubicles in the document file room.
No food or drink is allowed in the document file area. Document files should only be reviewed one at a time to avoid documents being misplaced. Please use only pencils (no pens) while accessing the files or research binders.
If you should need copies of documents, please make a request to a staff member.
Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Saint Louis Art Museum, Collection Document File, accession number, artist, title of object.
The following records are restricted:
Staff may provide a redacted version of a record containing confidential information.
