About the Archives

Dateline from the Academy's handwritten Constitutional Act of 1812 in which the founders express the purpose of their new institution, "namely, Science exclusively, useful Science, Physics, the science of Facts, dispassionately demonstrable knowledge and no other" [ANSP Archives Collection 527]

Overview

The Archives include a vast array of manuscripts, field notebooks, correspondence, films, journals, photographs, art and artifacts. They strongly reflect the activity of the Academy since the time of its foundation in 1812, comprising administrative records and official Academy documents as well as scientific and personal unpublished materials contributed by research scientists and other individuals associated with the Academy.

Explore the Archives

Finding aids for the Archives collections may be browsed or searched using the Drexel Archival and Special Collections Database.

Other finding aids and guides:

• Older versions of finding aids for selected collections, available here.
• Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, published by the Academy in 1963. An unpublished supplement to this guide is also available.
• The Art Collection Guide is a list of finding aids and images for a selection of archival collections containing scientific illustrations, wildlife art and photographs.

Research appointments

The Academy’s Library and Archives is open to the public for research Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment only. We also offer consultation to those unable to visit in person.

Inquiries about our Archives and requests for research appointments should be sent to archives@ansp.org.