Museum Archives: Using the Archives

Please demonstrate best practices when handling Museum archives materials.

• Do not bring food or drink into the reading room.
• Please refrain from using hand lotion, and wash hands prior to consulting materials.
• Remove any large jewelry that may cause damage to materials.
• Keep archives box situated on the reading room cart.
• Consult one folder at a time.
• When removing a folder from archives box, mark its location with a tabbed “Out” sheet.
• Return the archives box on cart to staff when finished.
• Exclusively use pencils, laptop computers, or smaller handheld devices when consulting materials.
• Position notebooks or laptops to the side of archives materials.
• Limit physical contact when handling fragile materials.
• Use nitrile gloves provided by staff to handle any photographic materials.
• Notify staff if you encounter damaged items.
• Make note of records group and container(s) for your own reference. See preferred citation below.

Copies

Researchers are allowed to scan materials using the self-service KIC Bookeye scanner in the reading room. They may also use smartphones and other handheld devices to photograph archival materials as long as no flash is used. 

Preferred Citation

Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), box number, folder name / number, 

Collection / Record Group Name, Record Series (if applicable),

Museum Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum.

The archivist may be unable to fulfill requests for access due to the following issues:

• Unprocessed materials
• Size, media type, and/or condition of materials
• Donor restrictions
• Sensitive records 

The following records are restricted:

• Human resources records
• Closed session minutes
• Donor files

The archivist, in consultation with an originating department head, may provide a redacted version of a record containing confidential information.