Researchers wishing to view TFI's Collections must fill out, sign, and either email or drop off an On-Site Visitor Research Form (click to download). For items intended for publication, additional information, including the expected place and date of publication, is required.

TFI's Collections, including archives and rare books, are fragile and vulnerable to damage from exposure to light during photocopying or scanning. Researchers are encouraged to conduct research on-site and request reproductions only when necessary. Collections Staff can provide digital or print copies for a small fee found in our Rights and Reproduction Agreement (click to download).

TFI often has property rights, but not copyright, to letters, photographs, sound recordings, and other materials. It is the responsibility of researchers to obtain copyright clearance to publish or distribute any third-party library or archival material. Collections Staff will be happy to provide contact information for copyright holders if they are known but will not undertake the process on behalf of any researcher.

Researchers are required to credit TFI as follows: From the Historical and Interpretive Collections of The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA.

If a researcher wishes to publish material from TFI’s archival collections and has obtained the necessary permissions, the researcher is asked to cite TFI as follows:

[Description of Item], [Box/Folder #], [Collection Title and Dates], The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For example: Committee on Science and the Arts, 20th Century Records/folder 2 of 2, John Price Wetherill Medal 1962 Collection, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Further Information

Anyone is welcome to contact the Librarian if they have questions or need further information. Contact details are provided below:

The Franklin Institute Library and Archives
222 N. 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tel: 215.488.1264
Email: library@fi.edu

TFI’s Collections Staff do not appraise materials. Please contact the appraisal society in your country for a list of appraisers in a specific geographic location.