Every researcher is responsible for assisting in the preservation
of the documents deposited in the Texas State Archives. The following
rules are intended to protect and preserve these materials to ensure
that the information they contain is available for subsequent visitors.
Registration
- Researchers are required to register on their first visit and
must agree to abide by these guidelines. After presentation of
a valid photo identification and proof of current address, the
researcher will be issued a registration number. The number will
be used on materials request forms and on all copy requests.
- Researchers must sign the Visitor's Register each day upon entering
the Search Room. Staff will assign a table for use. All cell phones
and beepers should be turned off at this time. No materials
will be pulled until the Visitor's Register has been signed and
a call slip completed.
Personal Belongings
- Coats and rain gear must be placed on the rack at the entrance
to the Search Room. Any garment removed after entering the Search
Room must be deposited on this rack or in one of the lockers in
the front of the Search Room.
- All briefcases, computer cases, camera bags, purses, fanny packs,
parcels, personal books, notepads, etc. must be deposited in a
locker or bins provided for this purpose. All cell phones and
beepers should be turned off or silenced at this time. Researchers
using lockers must return locker keys when leaving. A fee of $2.00
will be charged for each lost locker key.
Use of Materials
- Paper for taking notes is provided, and researchers are required
to present this paper and any other material to staff for inspection
before it is removed from the Search Room.
- Pencils only are permitted for taking notes. A pencil
will be provided if the researcher does not have one.
- Researchers must exercise every precaution to prevent damage
to the materials. Materials must not be marked on, leaned on,
folded anew, traced, or handled in any way likely to result in
damage. Loose sheets and bound pages should be handled gently
and by their edges to prevent soiling the surface of the paper.
- Documents and volumes must lie flat on the table. They are not
be placed in the lap or propped against the edge of the table.
- Only one box, one Confederate pension application, one court
case, or one bill file may be used at the table at a time. No
more than five volumes may be on a table at a time. Additional
material may be kept on a book truck (if boxes or volumes) or
at one of the reference desks (if pension applications, case or
bill files).
- Only one folder may be removed from a box at a a
time. A pink document marker must be used to hold its place in
the box. Items are not to be removed from the folder.
- The existing order and arrangement of the materials
must be maintained. If a mistake is discovered, please call it
to the attention of a staff member. Researchers must not correct
finding aids or re-arrange materials.
- Materials to be copied will be indicated by enclosing
pages to be copied between green START and red STOP markers. Files
with material to be copied will be returned to their proper box
location and the entire box taken to the copy desk.
- Researchers examining photographs must use gloves
provided for such use.
Restrictions
- Persons under 15 years of age are not permitted
to use the materials unless accompanied by an adult. One adult
per juvenile researcher is required, and that person will be held
responsible for the child's conduct in the Search Room. Children
under the age of 12 are not admitted to the Search Room.
- Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited in
the Search Room.
- Loud talking and activities likely to disturb other
researchers are prohibited in the Search Room. The use of cell
phones and beepers is not permitted.
- No materials will be pulled from the stacks after
4:30 p.m. Same day service copy requests are limited to 25 or
fewer pages, and no same day service copy requests will be taken
after 4:00 p.m. All materials must be returned by 4:55 p.m.
Publications
- It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure
permission to publish material from the State Archives. The researcher
assumes responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel and
copyright.
- Researchers intending to cite Archives resources
in publications should request a copy of the "Texas
State Archives Citation Form."
return to top
|