About The Archival Manuscript and Photographic Collections
The Library’s archival materials are organized by collection, named after the individual, family, or organization that donated them to the Library. Some examples are the Thomas Langan Photograph Collection and the Berrien’s Island Supreme Court Case Records.
Some archival collections contain only “manuscript,” or paper, materials. Some contain only photographs, and some consist of a combination of materials. Every collection is described by documents our archivists create called finding aids, which you will find in the results of your searches on the Queens Public Library website, along with results for circulating books and other materials pertaining to your topic.
If you want to refine your search to just see finding aids for archival collections, you can click the Search all Archival Collections link at the bottom of the page.
Physical access to the Manuscript Collection is only available Monday through Friday, 10am through 5pm. Queens Public Library also digitizes individual photographs and other items within these collections that you can find on the library’s Digital Archives website.
When you visit the Archives Reading Room and wish to request a collection's finding aid, please see a staff member. The finding aids are available in red binders and are used to assist researchers with accessing manuscript collections.
Manuscript users will be required to complete the Archives' Manuscript Usage Form and give their photo ID or Queens Public Library card to a staff member. The photo ID will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material.
Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk.
Manuscript users must use the Archives' loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pens of any type are permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request.
Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
The Copyright law for the United States governs the reproduction of copyrighted material. The Archives at Queens Public Library is authorized to provide reproductions of copyrighted material only if the reproduction is used for private study, scholarship, or research. Be aware that responsibility for copyright clearance to reproduce the reproduction rests entirely with the user. Be aware that the Archives at Queens Public Library owns the physical object but does not necessarily own the copyright to the image.