Policy to Access the Collection

The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology recognizes as one of the primary means of accomplishing its mission, the sponsorship of research on its collections by members of the University community and of researchers from anthropology and related disciplines from outside the University.

The Museum grants access to collections for the purpose of research and study conforming to the standards of the scholarly disciplines it represents and to individual scholars and members of groups whose traditional culture is represented by collections held by the Museum.

  • Access for purposes of Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) consultation are coordinated by the NAGPRA staff. Please see the NAGPRA page on our web site for additional information.

Appointments Required for Access

Access to the object collections is by appointment only and are scheduled by the collections manager.

Required Documents for Scheduling an Appointment

Researchers need to submit a written statement of research objectives for the project, information specifying the relationship of the project to specific museum collections, and a list of objects to be researched with catalog numbers.

Written requests for access to museum documents, including catalog cards, should be directed to the registrar. Access to the documents is also by appointment only.

  • Student researchers are required to provide a letter of support from a faculty member from their home institution who is familiar with their research.

    Unaffiliated researchers should provide a brief CV with their statement of research objectives.

Research requests may be sent by fax, e-mail, or regular mail. It should be noted that requests to conduct destructive analysis, to publish photographs from the museum's collection, or for original photography, require separate consideration and are subject to other policies available upon request.

Access to collections covered by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) may require additional letters of permission from the appropriate Tribal authorities. Guidance and appropriate contact information will be provided by Museum staff upon the submission of the research request.

Note: 

Due to our small staff size and the volume of research requests we receive, staff will not always be able to schedule a researcher on the first date he or she selects. The more in advance a researcher submits a request (four to six weeks is preferable) the greater the likelihood that he or she will be accommodated on the date requested. Once an appointment has been scheduled, we expect the researcher to arrive at the appointed time. We will try to assist late researchers when possible but this may involve delays while other researchers are accommodated. We greatly appreciate prior notification of late arrivals or canceled appointments whenever possible.

Making an Appointment for Object Collections

If you wish to make an appointment to conduct research with the object collections please contact the following collections managers for the collection you wish to access:

Egypt, Europe, Asia

Collections: Egypt, Europe (including Russia and other Slavic countries), Asia (from India eastward and Malaysia and the Philippines)

Latin America, Africa, Classical Mediterranean, Middle and Near East, Oceania

Collections: Latin America (Mexico, Central and South America), Africa (excluding Egypt), Classical Mediterranean, Middle and Near East, Oceania (including Australia), Drawings and Paintings

North America

Collections: North America and Hawaii (including the United States and Canada)

Media

Collections: Media (sound, film, photographs)

Making an Appointment for Document Collections

If you wish to make an appointment to study the documents please contact our Registrar.