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Archives & Special Collections (ASC)

Archives User's Guide

Welcome to the University of Louisville
Archives and Special Collections!

We're so excited to introduce you to our rare and unique collections.

Because these items are rare and sometimes fragile, there are a few things you need to know about researching in the archives.

research room

Working in our Research Room

In order to ensure the health and safety of our researchers and staff:

  1. You'll need to show an ID.
  2. We'll assign you a locker for your personal items.
  3. Staff will be on hand to help you handle collection materials safely and answer any questions.

Familiarize yourself with our Visitor Policies so you know what to expect.

Research Before You Visit

To ensure a smooth visit, we encourage researchers to search the Archives Catalog to identify materials for research. Not all of our materials are  cataloged, but this is a good place to start.

If you're new to archival research or our catalog, our Getting Started with Archival Research page may be helpful.

You can also contact us prior to your visit to consult with us about materials you may want to use during your visit.
Phone: (502) 852-6752
Email: archives@louisville.edu

catalog homepage

Register and Request Items

Our registration system helps us have your materials ready for you when you visit.

You only need to complete the registration piece the first time you use the system. After that, you can simply login and let us know what items you need and what day you'll arrive. 

Note that you will not receive a confirmation email from this system. Don’t worry: if something goes awry you can correct it when you arrive onsite.