About
Archives
Charge
The CAA Archive exists to organize, preserve, and make accessible the historical records of CAA to individual artists, art historians, and institutions.
Scope of items
The archive consists of the records of CAA from 1911 to the present. The archive includes administrative files, audio-visual materials (such as audiotapes and videotapes), committee files, correspondence, minutes, photographs, and printed materials. The archive reflects CAA’s mission.
Access Policy and Procedures
CAA’s archive is accessible to staff and to qualified scholarly researchers at the graduate level and above. Requests for access should be sent via email for review by the Executive Director, and they should include a brief summary of the research project, an outline of sources already consulted, and a curriculum vitae or résumé. Access is granted at the discretion of archive staff and certain archival material may be restricted. Researchers must read, fill out, and sign the Procedures Governing the Use of Unpublished Material prior to conducting research. By doing so, the researcher agrees to the terms and conditions stated therein.
All archival material must be handled with the utmost care. Improper handling and/or damage of archival material may result in the suspension of research privileges. Researchers must examine one folder at a time, maintaining the order in which the archival material was delivered. Hands should be washed before handling the material. Researchers must not mark, erase, fold, tear, or place adhesives of any kind on the material. The use of pens, indelible pencils, cameras, or any unauthorized device is prohibited. No food or drink is allowed. Particular care with fragile items is required.
Restricted Records
Certain archival material may be restricted to protect individual privacy rights and proprietary rights of CAA, or because the records have not been processed and prepared for use. Restrictions may be imposed on certain archival material including, but not limited to: Board of Director minutes, personnel files, financial records, legal documents, and anything that would compromise CAA’s confidentiality, security, or operations. Researchers must read, fill out, and sign the Procedures Governing the Use of Unpublished Material prior to conducting research. By doing so, the researcher agrees to the terms and conditions stated therein.
Publications and Permissions
Permission to study the archival material does not itself include the right to photocopy or publish the contents. Photocopies of certain archival material may be granted at the discretion of archives staff. There is no fee for copies.
Researchers wishing to quote from, copy, or publish in full or in part any documents held by CAA’s Archives should request permission to do so in advance from the Executive Director. Contact information and methods can be found on our staff page. Where CAA does not own or control the relevant intellectual property rights in the archival material, it may not be able to grant permission to publish, and the researcher may need to secure this permission himself or herself from the copyright owner.