Can you give me driving directions? Where can I park?
See the "Plan Your Visit" part of our website. There is a link with driving directions, and suggestions for public parking.
What hours/days are you open?
The Research Center is open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. The last retrieval of research materials is at 4pm.
Who is allowed to use the Research Center? Is it free?
The Williams Research Center is open to the public during regular business hours. There is no entry fee or charge for using our research collections. There are nominal charges for photocopies, photography orders, and usage fees for publication rights.
Can I make photocopies?
The reading room staff can photocopy certain materials at the patron's request. Permission must be obtained on a case-by-case basis for all photocopies, excluding microforms. Permission depends upon the condition of the material and any restrictions imposed by collection donors or the owner of copyright. No photocopies may be made of oversize, hand-colored, or fragile items, or if copyright infringement is a possibility. For more details, see our section on Reproductions.
Can I request to have copies made of photographs?
Patrons can request duplicates of photographs in our collections. Permission depends upon the condition of the original prints or negatives, as well as upon restrictions imposed by collection donors or the owner of copyright. For more details, see our section on Reproductions.
Can I check things out?
The Williams Research Center is not a lending library. Materials in our collections must be used on-site, in our Reading Room.
Are you handicapped accessible/ADA compliant?
Yes, the Williams Research Center is handicapped accessible and ADA compliant.
What am I allowed to bring into the Reading Room?
Researchers are allowed to bring note-taking materials such as notebooks, paper, or laptop computers into the Reading Room. Electrical outlets are available at most tables. All property not essential to research, including briefcases, personal books, cameras, coats, hats, etc., must be stored during your visit. Secure lockers for personal effects are available at reception. The staff retains the right to search any personal effects brought into the Reading Room by patrons. Also, please note that ink pens are not allowed. Pencils are available.
Are children allowed in the Reading Room?
In consideration of all our researchers, we try to maintain a quiet atmosphere. Parents of very young children may want to make plans for childcare while they conduct their research.
How do I get permission to include THNOC materials or images in something that I want to publish or broadcast?
Requests for publication permissions must be submitted in writing. Your request letter should include your name and contact information, a description of your project, the name of your publisher or production company, the specific images or materials from our collection (preferably including our identification numbers), and their intended use(s) in your project.
Can you tell me how much my old book/manuscript/artifact is worth ?
As a nonprofit institution, The Historic New Orleans Collection cannot give appraisals of materials in which it has a collecting interest. If you wish to learn the monetary value of something in your possession, we encourage you to consult a professional appraiser with experience in the current market for the type of object under consideration.
Can the WRC staff research my topic for me?
We try to assist long-distance researchers as best we can, but with our limited staff resources, extensive research via telephone/email requests is quite impossible. Our usual policy is to encourage researchers to come in person to the Williams Research Center to use our collections firsthand. Once here, our reference staff will be happy to connect you with the resources in our collections that will best answer your questions.
Do you have a file on a New Orleans artist that I’m looking for?
The Williams Research Center maintains an extensive Artist File Collection that contains miscellaneous information on specific artists and artistic organizations such as galleries, clubs, and schools. Our reference staff can assist you with your query.
Do you provide translations of documents written in foreign languages, like French, Spanish, or German?
Some foreign language documents in our collections are accompanied by English translations, but in most cases you will find them untranslated. Our Reading Room does have some foreign language dictionaries available for use by our patrons.
Can I donate my old book/manuscript/artifact to The Historic New Orleans Collection/Williams Research Center?
We are always very happy to consider donations of materials that relate to New Orleans and the surrounding region. For more information, see our section on Material Donations.
