Research Visits
Dive deep into the material that quickens your heart.
Research Visits
Letterform Archive offers one of the world’s best special collections and design reference libraries. Students, academic researchers, and professional designers with a specific focus can engage deeply and independently with a few materials on a single topic, designer, format, or discipline.
We offer 2–4 hour sessions of self-guided time with materials prepared just for you and up to 3 other guests. Just tell us what you want to see, and we’ll pull it for you in advance.
Hours
Tuesdays & Wednesdays:
- 11:00am–1:00pm by appointment
- 1:00pm–3:00pm by appointment
- 3:00pm–5:00pm by appointment
Research Visit FAQ
- What will it cost?
Nothing! As part of our non-profit mandate, unguided but supervised access to our materials will always be free.
If you are interested in a paid service that is something between a research visit and a tour, contact us via email and we can discuss options.
- Is there a catalog I can browse so I can be more specific in my request?
We don’t yet have publicly available catalog, but fear not! We take pride in making objects in the archive radically accessible. That means that when you come for a research visit, we pull material for you, regardless of whether it is cataloged or not.
That said, we do recommend that you look through the Online Archive or articles about the collection. If you find examples of things you want to see in person, or something to help narrow down our search, please feel free add links to your request.
If you’ve never been to the Archive before, we recommend you book a consultation with Collections Programming Manager, sair goetz, just after you submit your request. They will give you a call to make sure that the collections team knows just what to pull for you.
- I’ve never been to the Archive. Or I’m not sure what I want to see. Can anyone on staff help me formulate my request?
Yes! Our Collections Programming Manager, sair goetz, has office hours dedicated to research visit consultations.
We advise that you first schedule your visit, then book a consultation with sair.
- What should I expect during my visit? What can I bring with me?
When you come for a research visit, all the materials will be available for you ahead of time. You will be greeted by your Host, after which you will be able to settle into our Reading Room and store your personal belongings in a designated area. You are required to wash your hands before handling any of the materials, as you will not be using gloves. Please feel free to bring any note-taking devices and a camera to take photographs. We do not allow any ink pens, but we can provide you with pencils upon request.
During your scheduled visit, you will have uninterrupted hours to spend with all of your requested materials and objects. Please note that this will be a completely self-guided visit, but your Host will be present to answer any questions you may have.
- Can I take pictures? How do I get high-res images of material I see in the Archive?
Yes, you may take pictures, and we encourage you to share them! Just be aware that any commercial use may involve copyright considerations.
If you want high-resolution images of material you see in the Archive, we recommend that you submit a request for Image Digitization.
- My group is larger than four. What are some options for us?
If your group is larger, we recommend that you split up into smaller groups and register for multiple time slots so there are not too many people handling the materials at one time.
- I need to cancel my research visit, what do I do?
Your research table is hand-curated by the Collections team. Our of respect for their time, please cancel at least one week in advance of your visit.