The Archives is open to researchers affiliated with the NAS upon request. Researchers unaffiliated with the NAS must contact the Archives staff to set up an appointment at least 4 weeks in advance for a research visit. The research room is limited to 2 researchers at a time and appointments fill up months in advance.

Please note that all visits from researchers may be reviewed by an executive panel before approval for the appointment will be given. Archives hours for researchers are 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. We are closed for federal holidays. We cannot accommodate drop-in visitors.

Materials are kept in closed stacks and can only be used in the reading room. Archives staff will retrieve and remove materials at the researcher’s request. Many of the collections are organized and feature completed finding aids; other collections may be semi-organized but accessible. Archives staff can assist researchers in the use of finding aids and in the location of relevant records.

Photocopying of archival materials open to research is allowed contingent on the condition of the materials. Arrangements may be made for Archives staff to make photocopies of eligible materials and to post them to the requesting researcher. Such services are contingent on the size of the request, the nature of the document(s), and the availability of staff.

Scanners and digital cameras are allowed in the Archives. As with photocopying, reproduction of archival materials by scanning or digital photography is contingent on the condition of the materials.

All photograph reproduction is done by digital scan. Researchers may arrange to obtain scans of photographs in our collections for which the National Academies hold the copyright. Scans of photographs will be provided by Archives staff contingent on the size of the request and staff availability.

Use of cellphones, except for photographing of archival materials, is prohibited in the Archives reading room. Ringers must be switched off while in the reading room. The Archives does have access to Wi-Fi for visitors.

We may be able to provide digital copies of archival materials, reference and research assistance/answering questions, and/or scanning and transmitting digital copies of archival material. When this is possible requests will be answered in the order in which they are received, and such services are contingent on the size of the request, the nature of the document(s), and the availability of staff.