1. An Orientation Video Tape

There is a brief 20 minute orientation video which describes the collections of the Archives and is available to any researcher who wishes to use it.

2. Working in the Archives Reading Room

• Hang all coats, jackets, and umbrellas on the coat rack outside the Reading Room door.
  

• Place ALL personal belongings, except for a pencil, note cards and laptop computers on the shelves. This includes purses, backpacks, books, computer cases, notebooks, cell phones (which should be turned off), etc. A researcher may NOT take his own paper to his desk but the Archives will supply paper.
  

• Sign the registration book (also be sure to sign out).
  

• Fill out a registration form on your first visit and present a current photo identification at the time of registration to the staff member at the desk. Click here to see the regulations you agreed to when you signed the form.
  

• Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
  

• Food and beverages are not allowed. There is no smoking on the Wheaton College campus.
  

• Spouses, children, and friends may NOT sit with a patron in the Reading Room unless they also fill out registration forms.
  

3. Using the Finding Aids

A network of tools have been created to allow you to find documents relevant to your study.

Archival Database

Collection Guides

For each archival collection there is a guide which describes in detail the elements in that collection. There are four different types of collections.

• Papers - The documents of an individual
  

• Records - The documents of an organization or conference
  

• Interviews - Audio taped oral histories
  

• Ephemera - Documents about an individual not created by that individual.
  

Each guide will have the elements listed below.

• Brief Description of the Collection
  

• Title Page and Restrictions
  

• Historical Background (organizations, conferences, etc.) or Biography (individual)
  

• An Essay on the Contents of the Collection (Scope and Content) (a description of the documents contained within a collection)
  

• Provenance (concludes the Scope and Content section, tells where the Archives got the materials)
  

• Other Information Which Will be Helpful to Anyone Using The Guide (any other information that would be helpful to the researcher)
  

• List of ... (Location Records) (lists and descriptions of materials other than paper, e.g., audio tapes, films, phonograph records, photographs, video tapes, etc.)
  

• List of the Contents of Boxes of Paper Records in The Collection (Container List) (list by box and folder numbers and folder title of the paper materials)
  

Library Catalog

Apart from the BGC Archives Wheaton College has two excellent libraries. The college library online catalog is available for searches. This includes all the libraries on campus and covers books, periodicals, and archival materials. When you go to the catalog the screen says "login," type "library" and hit return. When the next screen appears type "Q" and also hit return.

4. Using the Materials

To request materials, list the collection number, box and folder numbers (see the Scope and Content section or the Container List of the guide) on a green Information Request card available at the main desk and give to the staff person there. A sample request card follows:

Note: Place each different collection number on a new Information Request card, that is, items from Collections 47 and 406, for example, should each be placed on separate cards.

To request photographs, list Photograph Folder Title (found in the collection guide on a photograph Location Record page) on an orange Information Request card available at the desk and give to the staff person. A sample follows:

Note: You may list as many photo files as you can get on each orange card.

Photocopies may be made of unrestricted materials as follows:

• Do NOT remove document to be copied from its folder. Turn it in its place so that it sticks out the side of the folder.

• Ask at desk for photocopy sign-up registration form and auditron (the gadget that operates the photocopier). Copies are $.05 each for Wheaton College faculty, staff, and students and $.25 for all others.

• On the registration form, list (1) date (2) name; (3) collection number; and (4) beginning auditron number.

• Staff member will insert auditron in photocopier.

• After copies are made, remove auditron from copier and enter (5) the ending auditron number and (6) the number of copies made. Pay staff member at the desk. A receipt is available on request. Copier is turned off ten minutes before closing.
  
  

Copies

It is possible in some cases to get copies of photographs, films, videos. Click here for more information.

Loans

Some unrestricted materials (microfilm, audio tapes, films, video tapes, etc.) may be loaned, either directly to individuals or through inter-library loan.
Click here for more information about inter-library loans.
Click here for more information about inter-library loans.

5. Using Films and Videos

A special room has been set aside to view films and videos in the Archives. Tape and collection numbers are needed to order any of these items. The numbers are found in the collection guides on the Archives Web page or in the Reading Room. You then should contact the Archives to reserve the viewing room and have the materials available when you arrive.

For more information on using films and videos, click here.

Note: It is strongly recommended that you reserve the viewing room ahead of time otherwise someone else may have signed up before you. Call 630-752-5910 after 10:00 A.M. and ask for the Reading Room desk to make a reservation.

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BGC Archives/ 500 College Avenue, 3rd floor/ Wheaton, IL 60187-5593/ U.S.A.
Telephone: (630) 752-5910
E-mail:

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Last Revised: 5/28/05
Expiration: indefinite

© Wheaton College 2005