Reference Services

Using the Archive


To safeguard our collection, please do not:

  • Bring food or drink, including water, into the reading room.
  • Use pens or ink (pencils are allowed for note taking).
  • Remove any archival records from the reading room.
  • Mark or annotate original records in any way.
  • Unfasten or interfere with the original order of papers within a file.

Handling archival records

  • Please ensure that your hands are clean and free from hand lotions and moisturizers. These lotions will cause the paper to stain and accelerate the deterioration process.
  • Licking your finger to turn pages will also stain the paper. A finger stall can be used to help turn pages, but extra care must be taken with thin and fragile folios.
  • Please handle all records carefully. Never force open a volume or a file. If you are unable to obtain information from a tightly bound spine, bring it to the attention of reading room staff.
  • Please do not lean on, or trace from any records or use them as a support for writing.
  • Please do not stack open files or place files within other files, as this places unnecessary pressure on the file and volume spine, and may lead to one of the files becoming lost or damaged.
  • If you need to flag a page, use a piece of clean paper. Do not use Post-it notes or bulky objects such as pencils and spectacles as place markers.
  • If you come across an item in poor condition, or with mold or insect damage, please bring it to the attention of reading room staff so it can be referred to Preservation for treatment.

Limit on the number of records issued

  • Patrons are able to request as many items as they need, but may only have one archival box removed from the archives at a time. Patrons may only have one folder removed from a box on their work space at a time. When removing a folder it is important to mark its placement in the box to ensure that the folder is placed back in the same location.
  • Archival materials cannot be "checked out" by patrons or museum staff and/or Board except when materials are in need of conservation or for a digitization project and prior approval from the archivist was obtained.

Research & Duplication Fees 


The purpose of this policy is to establish a fee schedule for services provided by museum archival staff for research of topics and duplication of paperwork or photographs, and digitization fees for those items. The Museum maintains an extensive archival collection consisting of military records, photographs, maps, and magazines. Under the supervision of museum staff the majority of these records are available to researchers at no cost to them if they are conducted at the museum. Although museum staff will not conduct extensive research on behalf of an individual we are able to provide information from our holdings as time and resources permit. Requests of this nature will be charged to the individual or institution making the request at an hourly rate that covers staff time to process. The fee for this research will be paid for prior to the research being conducted based on an estimate from the archival staff.

Fees

  • Fees for Hourly research by archival staff of the Minnesota Military Museum will be reimbursed at the rate of $25.00 per hour.
  • Duplication Fees of records will be assessed at the rate of $0.30 per copy.