Guide to Research and Reference Services
Reference
Tips
Tips for inquiring about information
from the Medical Center Archives:
Ask a specific question.
Include identifying details such as names,
dates, places, etc. (If submitting a request
by mail or fax, consider including photocopies
of any relevant documentation you already
have.)
Mention any published or archival sources
you have already consulted.
Mention any previous correspondence or
contact with the Medical Center Archives.
The Archivist can:
Recommend sources for a research visit
to the Medical Center Archives.
Give instruction on the Medical Center
Archives' research tools, resources, and policies.
Answer questions about the sources in the
Medical Center Archives during the research
visit.
Prepare requested materials prior to the
research visit.
Answer quick reference questions via email,
mail, fax, or telephone, such as:
- On what date was Rush Medical College
founded?
- When did my relative graduate from
St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing?
- Does the Archives have a reference
file on __________?
Examples of research questions for which
a research visit is required:
I need copies and/or all the information
you have on [person/subject].
I need to look at all of your photographs
of [person/subject].
Planning
a Research Visit
Research Hours
Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
By appointment only.
Due to remodeling construction and staffing changes, the Rush Archives cannot currently accept walk-in researchers. Please contact the Archives in advance for a research appointment.
If you are planning to research at the Rush
University Medical Center Archives, please
prepare for your visit using the process
outlined on our contact
page. Research
Registration
The Medical Center Archives staff asks
that you work with us to preserve our unique,
irreplaceable and fragile records by observing
our policies for access and use.
Upon entry, users must sign in to the Daily
Register and provide an acceptable form of
photographic identification.
Users will be asked to read and sign a Client Registration Form, which provides the guidelines
for using the Medical Center Archives, on
their first visit.
Signing the Client Registration Form acknowledges
your understanding and acceptance of the Medical
Center Archives' policies and procedures.
Reseachers must also sign the Archives'
Daily Register on each visit.
Coats, handbags, briefcases, backpacks,
packages and purses are not permitted in the
research area. (The Medical Center Archives
provides a secure storeroom )
Download the Client Registration Form (PDF)
Using
Archival Materials
The Medical Center Archives is a permanent
repository for unique, rare, and representative
records. The Medical Center Archives are
closed-stack collections; researchers are
not permitted in the stacks area. All materials
must be brought to clients by Medical Center
Archives staff, and must be used in the
designated research areas only. The staff
will provide researchers with finding aids
to the collections. Materials do not circulate
and may not be removed from the Medical
Center Archives.
The Medical Center Archives subscribes
to relevant statutory authority and regulatory
codes, institutional restrictions, the Society
of American Archivists' Code of Ethics for
Archivists, the Association
of College and Research Libraries' Standards
for Ethical Conduct for Rare Book, Manuscript,
and Special Collections Librarians,
and the ALA-SAA
Joint Statement on Access: Guidelines for
Access to Original Research Materials,
adopted by the Society of American Archivists
and the Association of College and Research
Libraries in August, 1994.
Much of the archival materials in the
Medical Center Archives are open and available
for research. Please note that certain records
may be restricted by statute, by office
of origin, or by the donors.
The researcher must assume full responsibility
for fulfilling the terms connected with
any restricted materials. The Medical Center
Archives also reserves the right to restrict
the use of unprocessed or fragile materials.
Handling
Archival Materials
- Researchers may only use materials from
one archival collection at a time, and
items must remain in their original order.
- Researchers must wear white cotton gloves,
provided by the Medical Center Archives,
when they handle photographic materials
and artifacts.
- When researchers wish to request copies
of an item, they will mark its location
with flags provided by the archives. Researchers
should never remove items from their folders.
- Researchers may not mark or fold any
archival materials.
- Researchers may use a laptop computer
as they research. (Sufficient electrical
outlets are available in research areas.)
- The Archives prohibits pens in research
areas. It provides pencils for researcher
use.
- Researchers may not eat, drink, or smoke
in the Medical Center Archives.
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