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What to Expect

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We welcome all researchers and visitors. However, a visit to the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections (CTASC) is a different experience from visiting another department or section of the library. This also affects how you do your research and the amount of time you need for your visit. Here are some things you should know prior to contacting CTASC to make arrangements for your visit.

Visiting CTASC

The reading room of the Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections is open for research visits on the following conditions:

• Access is by appointment only and appointments must be made in advance.
• Appointments are usually available from Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Researchers must complete a virtual registration form provided by Archives and Special Collections and submit it by email prior to their first visit.
• Researchers must submit a list of up to six items to be examined during their initial visit. Additional material can be retrieved during visits based on staff availability.
• Researchers are welcome to use digital cameras to take images of our holdings for their personal use and private study.
• Face masks are no longer required to be worn on campus, but we strongly encourage researchers to continue wearing them to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Please contact us at archives@yorku.ca to make an appointment to use our holdings.

What are archives?

Ask a Question & Contact Info

Before you visit:

Browse the website of the archives. You will often find very useful information about the collection you are interested in researching. Sometimes, you may find an A-Z listing of online finding aids to the institution’s archival collections.

  • Focus and refine your topic
  • Do your background research
  • Search for appropriate archives to visit
  • Check the hours to make sure that the archives is open and accepting research appointments
  • Contact the archives or library to book an appointment.
  • Bring some cash for photocopying, or bring a camera and ask if you are able to take photographs of materials.