Library & Archives

About

The ASM Library is a non-circulating research facility specializing in the archaeology and anthropology of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Because the library's collection development policy supports the mission of the museum, the collections are particularly rich in resources on southwestern indigenous cultures. Students and the public are welcomed. The Library's holdings are web-accessible through its online catalog.

The ASM Archives collects manuscripts and archival materials, including maps and sound recordings related to the archaeology and ethnology of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. This includes original research data and manuscripts produced by museum staff, the faculty of the University of Arizona’s School of Anthropology, and others involved in southwestern anthropology. The Arizona State Museum Archives currently cares for more than 1,500 linear feet of paper documents, more than 6,000 maps, and more than 800 original sound recordings. Access to the archives is by appointment only.

Location

The ASM Library and Archives are located on the second floor of the museum's north building. Directions and map

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Access Policy & Hours

Library

The Arizona State Museum Library is available to the public Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., unless otherwise posted. Appointments are required for use during non-public hours Monday–Thursday.

The library's collections are non-circulating. A photocopier for public use is available in the reading room.

Archives

It is the policy of the Arizona State Museum to make its collections available to the public, academic community, and others for research, publication, exhibition, educational, and other purposes. However, the type and conditions of such use must be consistent with the museum's responsibility for care and preservation of its collections. Access to sensitive materials may be restricted. Archives users are responsible for securing copyrights or literary rights when necessary.

The Arizona State Museum Archives are available by appointment only Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Access is available only to:

1. Arizona Antiquities Act permit holders.
2. Researchers who have a need to access to the ASM Archives to comply with legal mandates.
3. Researchers who have an interest in accessing fully processed manuscript collections whose finding aids are available on Arizona Archives Online (AAO). Prior to making a request for access to documents, please research the collections on AAO to identify specific box/folder location information. Some archival documents have records in the ASM Library online catalog. Please provide the accession number associated with the document with your request for access.

Photocopying services are available for 50 cents per page. Archives personnel do all copying as soon as is possible. Prices for large orders, rush orders, copying on acid-free paper, oversize copying (including maps), and copying sound recordings will vary. Researchers are welcome to bring their own scanning equipment or digital cameras.

Contact

For information or reference assistance, please call 520-621-4695 during library hours or use the Ask a Librarian / Archivist form.

To make an appointment to use the library during non-public hours or to request access to the archives contact:

Mary Graham
Librarian
Head, ASM Library and Archives
1013 E. University Blvd.
P.O. Box 210026
Tucson, AZ 85721-0026
520-621-4695
You may also email your request.

The Catalog

The online catalog includes the bibliographic collections of the ASM Library, Archives, Archaeological Records Office, the Archaeological Repository, and the Office of Ethnohistorical Research.

The catalog was supported with funds granted by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Agency under the Library Services and Technology Act, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

About Location Information in the catalog

• Material from locations other than "ASM Library Stacks" may require additional time for retrieval and some may be restricted.
• "Citation only - Consult with staff" indicates a bibliographic reference to material (some of which is not in the ASM collection) rather than a physical location.

Holdings

The library's collections include more than 70,000 volumes—many of which are rare titles—and over 1,500 periodical titles. Additional materials include the following:

• Ephemera Files: These files, organized by author, contain offprints of articles from journals and monographic series as well as papers given at conferences, symposiums, etc.
• Archaeological Survey, Testing, and Excavation Reports: This collection consists of cataloged as well as uncataloged technical reports on field work conducted throughout the Southwest. Characteristically, this type of report is printed in limited numbers by the contract and governmental agencies that produce them. Both cataloged and uncataloged reports are available for use in the reading room.
• Museum Studies: The library has a comprehensive collection of professional museum literature, including museum guides from around the world.

Archival collections include:

• Documents
• Maps
• Sound Recordings

Donations

If you are interested in making a cash donation or donating items or collections, please refer to the Donate to Arizona State Museum page.

Additional Resources

• Photographs are curated by the Photographic Collections Section (520-621-6311).
• Although there is some material in the archives related to the Spanish Colonial Period, far more will be found in the Office of Ethnohistorical Research (520-621-6278).
• Likewise, there are very limited materials in the archives related to 19th and 20th century Hispanic and Anglo settlement. Researchers interested in those materials are more likely to be successful at the Arizona Historical Society (520-628-5774), located just west of the UA campus.
• Additional materials on topics related to our holdings may be found in Special Collections at the University of Arizona Main Library (520-621-6423).
• Please see our Other Resources page for additional links.

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