Research Center
Healdsburg Museum’s ROBERTA IVERSEN SMITH ALEXANDER RESEARCH CENTER holds the Museum's extensive collection of local history books, genealogical publications, historical photographs, oral histories, maps, building records, and City records documenting Healdsburg and Sonoma County. The Research Center maintains an archive of over 15,000 historical photographs. The Research Center also contains burial records, voting and census records, city and county directories, microfilms of local newspapers and a detailed newspaper index dating from 1858.
RESEARCH CENTER POLICIES:
IN PERSON
* Persons wishing to conduct research in person should contact the Research Curator Holly Hoods in advance to schedule an appointment via email - holly@healdsburgmuseum.org or calling 707-431-3325. This gives Museum staff the opportunity to prepare relevant materials and to obtain any pertinent records stored off site.
NOTE: Drop-in research will be accommodated whenever possible, but calling in advance is much preferred. Calling the Museum, or emailing prior to visiting the Research Center is highly recommended for out-of-town researchers.
- Museum staff will orient the researcher to the holdings and technology used in the Research Center.
- The researcher will be asked to sign a research form. This form remains on file with the Museum, explains the Museum's charges, and stipulates that researchers agree to adhere to current copyright laws in the use of Museum collection materials.
- Careful handling of research materials is required. No pens may be used around primary documents; only pencils. No food or drink is allowed. Photocopying is permissible with all but the most fragile documents. Museum staff reserves the right to deny photocopying. Digital photography must also be approved by staff. Flash photography is not permitted ANYWHERE in the Museum.
- All researchers must be supervised by staff. No one may be left unattended in the Research Center. No items are to be removed from the premises without staff authorization. The Research Center is not a lending library.
RESEARCH REQUESTS
Research requests by phone, mail or email shall be handled by the Museum's Research Curator. Usually, the first reply provides basic information about the relevant research available in our collection, including our fees. The charge for research by Museum staff is $40 per hour, plus 15¢ per photocopy. Research Fees directly support archival preservation and acquisition of materials in the Research Center.
GENERAL POLICIES
Reproduction or publication of all materials must be approved by the staff.
* For all approved reproduction or publication uses, a Museum credit line is required. Failure to comply with this requirement is a breach of contract subject to damages as set forth in the contract and shall result in denial of further requests for use of Museum research collection materials.
* The Museum enforces its rights of ownership, copyright, and other title of certain materials in its research collection.
