Ask the Archives - Instructions: Institute Archives & Special Collections: MIT


	Instructions for "Ask the Archives!"



	Our web site contains historical, collection, and policy information that may help you to find an answer or formulate your question. We have prepared a list of other sources that might help you in your research, as well as alternate locations of some MIT publications and theses. See also Genealogical Research in the Institute Archives. We will respond to your question as soon as we can. Our reference staff is limited to spending one-half hour per patron to answer brief factual questions or provide information about our collections. We regret that we are unable to undertake research for patrons outside the MIT community. We will send you either the answer to your question or information about the sources in the Institute Archives related to your topic. We may contact you for clarification of your question. Most of our collections are stored off site and require 24-48 hours to retrieve. Many of our collections have restrictions on access because they are unprocessed, or due to MIT access policies or restrictive donor agreements. Please address follow-up correspondence to mithistory@mit.edu, rather than to individual staff members, who may be away from the office. You are encouraged to visit the Institute Archives to explore our collections. We hope that we will be able to help you with your research project.