Welcome to the Research Center

The Research Center holds the printed material, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, architectural drawings, and assorted ephemera of the Chicago History Museum. Explore our Research Collections.

Admission

Free. Visitors to the Research Center are required to bring in a completed registration form to provide to the Visitor Services Desk when you check in or to fill out a registration form on-site, show a photo ID, and check oversized belongings in the Museum’s coat check. The Research Center has free lockers available for bags and coats. Children under six will not be admitted.

Quick Links

Guide to the Research Center

An in-depth guide to the Chicago History Museum’s Research Center, including hours, access, policies, subject guides, and other useful resources.

ARCHIE Online Catalog

Search ARCHIE for information on the Museum’s holdings that are served through the Research Center. Materials described in ARCHIE include manuscripts; books and periodicals; and photographic materials. Please note that while this resource is extensive, it is not exhaustive.

Hours

Please note: The Research Center’s hours are different from the Museum’s. We stop paging material at 3:30 p.m.

January–May 23, 2020
Tuesday–Friday: 1:00–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Appointments available on Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Closed: April 5–13, 2020.

The Research Center is open most Friday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon for researchers who have identified in advance the material they want to use. No additional materials can be retrieved, reference assistance provided, or photocopying until the Research Center reopens at 1:00 p.m.

To request a Friday morning appointment, please email [email protected]

Visiting

We are pleased to welcome authors; university and college teachers; independent scholars; photo researchers; members of the press; elementary and secondary school students; undergraduate and graduate students, including PhD candidates; architects; building developers; and family and house historians, among many others. The Research Center is also a popular destination for History Fair students.

Advance appointments are required for History Fair research (grades 6 to 12). If you are a History Fair researcher, click here.

Paging

The majority of our collections are housed outside of the Research Center. Call slips are available on each table and should be filled out as completely as possible so that staff can retrieve the material. Paging stops at 3:30 p.m.

Some material, including color photographs, must be requested at least 48 hours in advance; a note in the catalog record will alert you to this type of restriction. Most of our material is fragile, so please respect the following policies: Pencils only. No food, drink, or gum.

Photocopies and camera use

Photocopying Fees
$.50/page
$.25/page for History Fair students
Please note: Photocopies will not be made of city directories, newspapers, scrapbooks, maps, color photographs, and original photographs created prior to 1900. Depending on demand, photocopies may not be available for same-day pick up.

Camera Use Policy
Researchers may photograph most Research Center material. If you wish to use your camera, please notify a Research Center staff member upon arrival and plan to review and sign our Camera Use Policy before taking photographs.

Advance appointments