1. Complete and sign a Research Agreement form once each fiscal year (July 1-June 30);
2. Provide valid photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, student or faculty ID, passport);
3. Complete a request slip to view research materials;
4. Sign the archives visitor register at each of your visits;
5. Refrain from smoking, eating, and drinking in the research room;
6. Leave personal belongings in the lockers provided including, pens, scanners, cell phones, MP3 players, flash drives, and/or photographic devices.

1. Unbound paper or note cards into the research room;
2. Personal computers after an inspection of the computer by Archives Research Center Staff.

1. View resources in the research room;
2. Show an AUC ID with RWWL barcode to view books if you are an AUC student, faculty or staff member;
3. Use books with the assistance of Archives staff;
4. Use materials in limited quantities, usually one box or two books on the table at a time;
5. Maintain order of documents. Please notify staff of misfiled or missing documents immediately.

The Archives Research Center (ARC) strives to provide patrons with meaningful access to facilities, collections, and services. ARC staff will reasonably augment services for users who identify themselves as needing accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or §504 of the Higher Education Act. ARC works collaboratively with the offices of student support services at Clark Atlanta University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College, and Spelman College to evaluate requests for assistance on a case by case basis. If you need assistance, please contact [email protected] or inform the staff at the reference desk. Questions about requested accommodations should be referred to the Associate Library Director.

Our archivists can provide library instruction on use of archival resources and collections for your classes. Faculty can request instruction by completing the Library Instruction, Orientation and Tour request form or by calling the Archives Research Center at 404.978.2052. To accommodate preparation time, staffing, and training lab availability, your request should be submitted at least one week before the date you want the session scheduled. An archivist will contact you regarding your request.

Schedule Instruction

The Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library and Archives Research Center promote open and equal access to the collections in their care without discrimination or preferential treatment, and in accordance with legal requirements, cultural sensitivities and institutional polices. The Library recognizes its responsibility to promote the use of archival collections as a fundamental purpose of the preservation of archives. Researchers will be asked to reveiw and sign research agreements which govern the use of archival collections. Restrictions may be placed on access for the protection of privacy or confidentiality in the collections or due to the fragile nature of the material.

This policy adheres to the Code of Ethics for Archivists approved by the Society of American Archivists February 5, 2005. VI. Access.

The Archives Research Center reserves the right to prohibit or limit photocopying of fragile, restricted, and copyrighted materials. Due to copyright policy, no more than 20 percent of a collection can be copied, and is at the discretion of the archivist.

Of the materials in the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection, only 20 percent of a document may be copied. In accordance with this policy, documents may only be photocopied if they are more than six pages in length.

Photocopies of materials in the Archives Research Center may be requested for a fee and are prepared by the staff. Depending on the staffing level and size of the copy request, photocopies may not be available on the same day of the request.

You may request reproductions of images from an archival collection by completing the Image Reproduction request form. If the images requested are to be published, you will also need to submit a Permission to Publish Request form. If you already possess the image(s) you wish to publish, you do not need to complete the Image Reproduction form but still need to fill out the Permission to Publish Request form. From the date of your submission, please allow at least seven business days to process your request.

An invoice will be sent to the e-mail provided. Payment is accepted by money order or credit/debit card. In addition to reproduction fees and permission fees, the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library requests donation of the finished publication for our holdings. Please allow at least seven business days from the date payment is received to process your request.

Download Image Reproduction Request

Researchers may be granted permission to publish materials in the Archives Research Center. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you already possess the digitized image(s) you wish to publish, complete the entire Permission to Publish Request form. If you need digitized images, fill out the Image Reproduction Request and complete questions 7 through 11 of the Permission to Publish Request.

An invoice will be sent to the e-mail provided. Payment is accepted by money order or credit/debit card. In addition to reproduction fees and/or permission fees, the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library requests donation of the finished publication for our holdings.

Download Permissions to Publish Request

The Archives Research Center collections contain many rich, unique documents, photographs, and monographs which other institutions may request to borrow to enhance displays. Contact the Head of the Archives Research Center for more information and to request materials.