The Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC) provides access to and care for the Chicago History Museum's Research Collections, which includes printed and published materials, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, architectural drawings, and assorted ephemera.
The ARC is located on the third floor of the museum.
Visitors to the ARC include authors, university and college teachers; independent scholars; photo researchers; members of the press; primary and secondary school students; undergraduate and graduate students, including doctoral candidates; architects; building developers; and family and house history researchers.
Admission to the ARC is free. No reservations required. Children under 6 years old are not allowed.
We recommend that you email research@chicagohistory.org to ensure that an on-site visit is best for your needs.
The ARC is located on the third floor of the museum.
Spring hours (January 2 - May 25): Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Summer hours (May 28 - August 30): Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Researchers must check in at the Visitor Services desk on the museum's ground floor. You will be asked to complete a registration form and show a valid photo ID (driver's license, state-issued identification, student ID, or passport).
Coats and backpacks must be checked, there is a free check at the Visitor Services desk. The ARC has lockers to store small bags and purses.
The ARC requires visitors to wear masks. We thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for staff and visitors. Learn more about the Museum's safety policies and procedures.
Much of our material is fragile; please respect the following policies:
ARCHIE, the Chicago History Museum's online catalog, searches published material, archival material, and photograph collections of CHM. ARCHIE is searchable from outside the museum.
For more information on specific collections, material types, or subjects, see our list of guides linked on this page.
To perform a complete search of all collections available at the Research Center, use ARCHIE and the following resources:
Chicago History Museum Collections in CONTENTdm - Contains a selection of digitized materials, oral histories, and archival finding aids, (you can limit by institution in Advanced Search.)
Type your search term and "site:chsmedia.org" into any search engine, which searches across our legacy finding aids and inventories.
CHM Images - Digitized historic images from CHM's collections available to search, download, license, and purchase.
Please direct inquiries about our collection to research@chicagohistory.org. We regret that we cannot take phone calls.
For licensing or reproduction inquiries related to the Museum’s holdings, contact Rights and Reproductions.
Most of our collections are stored outside the ARC. Call slips must be filled out so that staff can bring you material. Call slip forms are available at each table (signage also in Spanish) and are color-coded by material type. Information to complete the call slip is found within the catalog record or finding aid.
Some materials, including color photographs, must be requested at least 48 hours in advance. The catalog record indicates when this type of restriction is applicable.
Paging stops an hour before closing: 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Staff are available to help with questions when filling out the slips.
Photocopying/scanning fees:
$0.50/page
$0.25/page for History Day students
Please note that photocopies/scans of city directories, newspapers, scrapbooks, maps, color photographs and original photographs that were created before 1900 may not be made.
Camera use:
Most of the ARC material can be photographed. If you want to use your camera, please notify the reference staff upon arrival at the ARC reception.
When you register at Visitor Services you agree to follow the rules outlined in the Camera Use Policy.
Researchers who can't visit the Abakanowicz Research Center in person may wish to use the Remote Photocopy/Scan Request form.
There are 6 PCs in the Abakanowicz Research Center with access to our online resources:
the catalog, ARCHIE
the historical Chicago Tribune, Chicago Defender, and Chicago Sun-Times databases
Sanborn Maps and more
Have a laptop or tablet? Wi-fi is available in the Abakanowicz Research Center. Please ask for the password at the reference desk.
If your research question requires a detailed or urgent answer, we suggest that you hire an independent researcher.
Complete information about the museum's collections can be found here.
If you wish to donate materials to the Museum, please complete the Collection Donation form.