Research Services

Services Overview

The Medical Center Archives works with offices, donors, faculty, staff, and researchers in order to provide access to, and ensure the preservation of, departmental archives, historical collections, and oral history materials. The Archives staff provides a range of research services to patrons, including research assistance, locating and providing relevant materials, and answering questions and verifying information related to DUMC history, projects, and activities.

The Archives is open to all members of the DUMC community as well as the general public. We are happy to work with in-person and remote patrons.

Preparing for Your Visit

Patrons are required to provide a photo ID and complete a registration form to use archival materials.

We encourage patrons to review the content on this page and the regulations for use of archival materials so they will know what to expect while conducting research with us.

While the Archives attempts to provide full access to its holdings, individual collections may be restricted due to federal/state regulations, University policy, or individual donor wishes. Use of some restricted materials may require written permission. Contact the Archives staff prior to your visit in order to determine individual restrictions.

Procedures for Requesting Materials

Materials may be requested via our online request form, by email at dumc.archives@mc.duke.edu, or by phone at (919) 383-2653. We recommend that patrons review our finding aids in order to help determine which collections or files may be applicable to their research.

Because some of our collections are located off-site and some contain restricted materials, we ask that patrons request materials at least two full business days before planned date of use.

For collections known to contain information restricted by HIPAA or FERPA, Archives staff will review materials before presenting them to patrons. Redaction of some information may be necessary.

Finding Materials

Finding Aids
To find archival materials, consult the finding aids on our website: Collections Listing. From the “Collections Listing” page, you can either browse by letter (for example, click on "B" to find "Joseph W. Beard Papers") or search by using the "Site Search" box in the upper right corner of the site. (This is best if you have a particular topic in mind, such as "polio" or the "Bell Building.")

Library Catalog
Our materials also may be searched by using the Advanced Search option in the Duke University Libraries catalog. Select “Medical Center” in the “Optional Search Limits Location” box and “Archival materials” from the “Format” drop down selections. You may also search for other kinds of materials the Archives and Medical Center Library owns using this drop down box, such as books and journals.

MEDSpace
MEDSpace is the Archives’ digital repository, which includes hundreds of digitized images relevant to the history of the Duke University Medical Center. Users can search for a particular individual or topic or browse by subject or collection.

Archives Subject Guide
For additional suggestions for finding materials, please see our guide to beginning research at the DUMC Archives: https://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/archives.

Directions & Hours

The Archives is two miles from the Duke University Medical Center campus. There is no shuttle service between the campus and our location. Parking is free. Directions are available here: Directions

1408A Christian Avenue
Monday – Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm
Saturday- Sunday, Closed

The Archives also has an on-campus office at the Medical Center Library. A member of the Archives staff is available to meet with patrons, and with advance notice, patrons can work with archival materials.

206 Seeley G. Mudd Building
Monday – Friday, 9:00am-4:00pm
Saturday- Sunday, Closed