Collections and Archives Access

Update, June 2021: While the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History exhibition spaces will partially open to the public on June 18th, our collections and archives remain closed to most staff and all researchers, and the museum’s COVID-19 loan moratorium remains in effect. Currently, there is no capacity to accommodate collections activities including visits, image requests, loans, and shipments.  While there is no current date set for when on-site collections activities will resume, we will update as soon as this changes.

We strive to make our vast national collections accessible, both online and in person, to anyone with a research question related to our collections. Visiting researchers include anthropologists, artists, students, historians, descendant families and communities.

Visit the Collections

Access to the collection is provided by appointment only. We have a limited number of staff members to assist researchers. Therefore, we suggest that you book an appointment at least a month in advance.

• Request an appointment

Location and hours

• Our collections are housed at the Museum Support Center (MSC) at 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland.
• Appointments are available Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, excluding federal holidays.
• Additional Visitor Information for MSC

Visitor Agreements

You will be required to sign one of these agreements:

• NAA Visitor Policy  (for visitors working in the Archives, with photos, fieldnotes, manuscripts, etc.)
• Anthropology Collections Visitor Agreement (for visitors working with objects)

Repatriation-related visits

Repatriation-related visits should be scheduled directly with the Repatriation Office

Related Collections Nearby in Suitland, MD

The collections and archives of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) are housed at the Cultural Resources Center, located next door to the Museum Support Center. Please contact NMAI staff for an appointment.

Contact Us

Questions about collections in the National Anthropological Archives? Contact the archivists at naa@si.edu or call 301-238-1310.

Questions about the Anthropology collections? Contact Collections Manager, David Rosenthal.

Questions about the collections at the Human Studies Film Archives? Contact the archivists at hsfa@si.edu