How to Use the National Archives for Black Women's History
Availability
Researchers are encouraged to complete their preliminary research at archives and libraries with a broader topical focus before approaching the holdings of the National Archives for Black Women's History [NABWH] at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS. The Site has limited reference staff and limited space that must be reserved for researchers whose work focuses on materials available only at the NABWH. Access to materials is dependent upon their physical condition and the level of processing to-date by the NPS. All research must be done on-site in the research room.
Access
Researchers should submit a request to the Archives detailing their research project to the Archivist. Research requests should be submitted with enough lead time to allow for the evaluation of the request and the scheduling of a research visit. Research slots are often booked weeks in advance. All research requests should be addressed to:
Archivist
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS
National Archives for Black Women's History
1318 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20005-3607
or via e-mail at:
e-mail us
The contact telephone number is 202-673-2402 ext. 240.
Approval of all research requests will be based on availability of the Archivist to supervise researchers. Only one researcher can be accommodated at a time and research slots are often scarce, so please plan ahead.
Please note: As a courtesy to fellow researchers, if you make an appointment please show up and make the most efficient possible use of the scheduled time. Appointments are scheduled from 9:30am to 4:00pm. Especially if you are scheduled for multiple days, you should plan to spend the whole day researching (minus a lunch, of course). Please schedule sightseeing, research elsewhere, or other activities outside your appointment hours. If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so as soon as possible so we can reschedule the day for someone else.
The archives staff at Mary McLeod Bethune Council House NHS will e-mail the required forms and electronic versions of our finding aids to the researcher. We strongly suggest that the researcher work through the finding aids before their visit to maximize the efficiency of their time with the collections. To ensure the conservation and security of this resource, browsing is not permitted.
Archives staff can answer some reference questions over the phone, depending of the complexity and time involved in fulfilling the request. If appropriate, the staff will e-mail interested individuals scanned copies of materials from the archives in PDF format (or, if necessary, will photocopy and mail them).
All written requests for information will be answered in a timely manner. The more specific the request the easier it will be for staff to provide an answer. The archives staff reserve the right to determine that a complex or extensive request will require a research visit.
For additional information on the archives procedures and holdings, please contact the archivist at 202-673-2402 x240.
