Skip to Main Content

Guide to the American Civil Liberties Union Records at the Mudd Manuscript Library

Mudd is the main document repository for records from the ACLU's national office and other related collections.

Registration

The Mudd Manuscript Library is open to all researchers. No appointment is necessary, but registration is required to use our holdings. We encourage researchers to register in advance of their visit by creating a Special Collections Research Account.

Using your Research Account, you may submit online requests to view items in our reading room. While collection material will not be paged for patrons in advance of check-in, you may prepare for your visit by requesting boxes and/or folders relevant to your research at any time. While most materials are located on-site, some materials are off-site and require 2-3 business days delivery time. We strongly recommend researchers place their requests for materials 2-3 business days in advance of their arrival despite the storage location of materials.

Visit our Special Collections Research Account Help blog for assistance with creating your account.

Submitting Requests Ahead of Your Visit

Some material in the ACLU Records must be reviewed for legal restrictions prior to research use. Please submit requests for material via your Research Account at least 10 business days before visiting the library to allow time for this review. A reference staff member will respond within 10 business days to let you know whether the material is available for research use. Individuals may make up to 15 requests per month.

See the "Using the Finding Aids" video below and the How to Search page for instructions on searching the finding aids site and submitting requests to view materials in the Mudd Library reading room.

Digtal Photography in the Reading Room

The use of personal digital cameras, tablets, or cell phones are permitted in the reading room for research purposes only. This can be one of the fastest and most inexpensive ways to capture research material for later review while in the reading room.

Please review our Digital Photography Policy and our Digitization Guidelines and Price List prior to your arrival