Information for Users
We are located about two miles from Duke University Medical Center campus in Durham, NC. There is no shuttle service between our location and the campus. Parking is free and plentiful at our lot, which is located just in front of our building facing Interstate 85.
Preparing for Your Visit
Every effort is made to maintain convenient hours, but we reserve the right to close for brief periods when a staff presence cannot be maintained. Persons coming from a distance should make arrangements ahead of time to insure that they can be accommodated.
Whenever possible, please review collection finding aids and subject guides, if available, prior to your visit. Finding aids (guides to archival collections) will help you determine which collections or files may be applicable to your research.
If you plan to conduct research in a restricted collection, you may need written permission. Contact the Medical Center Archivist to begin the permissions process.
- Bring a pencil or felt-tip pen for note taking.
- Advance notice is required to use records that are stored off site at the Library Service Center.
- Drinks, food, or tobacco products are not permitted in the reading room. There are many restaurants nearby.
Procedures for Requesting Materials
Researchers must complete and sign an application form once each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) and must provide acceptable identification (driver's license or photographic I.D. card).
All manuscripts and archival materials are housed in closed stacks. Readers may request particular items by submitting call slips to Archives staff. Staff will bring material to the researcher. No material will be pulled for researcher use after 4:15 p.m.
All materials must be consulted in reading room area only and may not be taken to other areas of Archives.
Researchers may be limited in the amount of material received at one time, usually no more than one folder at a time.
For collections known to contain information restricted by HIPAA or FERPA, Archives will review materials before presenting them to patrons. Redaction of some information may be necessary.
Archives reserves the right to inspect all research materials and personal articles before a patron leaves the building.
Manuscripts and archival materials are to be maintained in the order in which they are received by the researcher. If an item appears to be damaged or misfiled, please notify a staff member.
Reproduction policies vary by media and service. Please consult our fee schedules.
Portable computers may be used, so long as usage does not disturb other patrons. There are a limited number of outlets. Space is also limited. The use of other equipment (cameras, etc.) must be approved by staff beforehand.
Materials may not be handled in any way that may damage them. Mutilation, destruction and theft of Archives and Manuscripts materials are subject to prosecution.
Coats and other bags must be deposited in the lockers provided. Archives reserves the right to inspect any coats or bags brought into the reading room.
Materials must be returned to staff by 4:30 p.m. or before the researcher leaves Archives
Citing Materials from Medical Center Archives
In order for other researchers to use and verify your research, it is important to cite exactly where you obtained your information. The following examples are meant as a guide for citing information from the Duke University Medical Center Archives or Manuscripts collections.
- For bibliographic citations from the Medical Center Archives:
- Chancellor's Office, Medical Center Archives, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
- For bibliographic citations from the Manuscripts Collection:
- Wilburt C. Davison Papers, Medical Center Archives, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
- For footnote citations from the Medical Center Archives:
- From Frederick M. Hanes to Wilburt C. Davison, 27 May 1939, in Chancellor's Office, Correspondence, "Hanes, Frederic M., 1938-1947" folder, Medical Center Archives, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
- For footnote citations from the Manuscripts Collection:
- From Wilburt C. Davison to Frederick M. Hanes, 23 October 1934, in the Frederick Moir Hanes Papers, Medical Center Archives, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.