James Henry Breasted's Camera

The RB Cycle Graphic Camera owned by James Henry Breasted (D. 17490).

Artworks by E. F. Beaumont

A lithograph of the Damascus Gate in the The Lillian E. Beaumont Collection of Artworks by E. F. Beaumont (D. 16209).

Records from Oriental Institute Expedition at Tell Asmar

The discovery of a cache of Sumerian worshipper statues at Tell Asmar, January 1934 (P. 23290/N. 16367).

James Henry Breasted's Notebooks

A collation of the "Blessing of Ptah" text from Abu Simbel in the notebooks of James Henry Breasted (D. 17464).

The Lamassu in the Edgar and Deborah Jannotta Mesopotamian Gallery

Dr. Watson Boyes and a group of students in front of the human-Headed Winged Bull known (OIM A7369; P. 21850).

Negative from the Oriental Institute Collection

M. Numa Patlagean, sculptor, and Dr. Breasted in the study in Haskell looking at the bust of the latter (N. 10955 / P. 18899).

The Oriental Institute Museum Archives is the official repository for documentation related to the Oriental Institute's administration, expeditions, photography, faculty, and staff. It is the mission of the Museum Archives to perform curatorial and information services pertaining to these collections including conservation, preservation, and access. The Museum Archives primary collections consist of the following:

  • Correspondence of the Director's office begining with James Henry Breasted
  • Papers of Oriental Institute faculty and staff
  • Field records of Oriental Institute expeditions
  • Curatorial records and correspondence of the museum

A major component of the Museum Archives is the extensive holdings of photographic records, comprised of over 100,000 negatives, prints, and slides. Further information can be found on the Photographic Archives page. The photographic archives consist of the following:

  • Documentation of the Institute through time, including photographs of objects in the Museum, exhibits, and special events
  • Photographs of archaeological artifacts excavated by Institute projects
  • Photographs of monuments and other in situ features at sites where Institute projects have worked
  • Historical photographs of objects, sites, and people associated with ancient Near East research

Begin your research by searching the electronic records of the Oriental Institute Museum Archives. These are available through the public Search Our Collections page, where the ongoing and growing catalog of the Museum Archives resides. This may assist in narrowing your request. 

The archives are open Monday – Friday from 9:00 – 4:00pm. Please visit our Access the Collections page to arrange a Research Visit. 

The Museum Archives will be closed for routine maintenance Monday, July 17th through Fiday, July 28th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Oral History Project

Learn about the Oriental Institute Oral History Project.

Oral History Project

Search Our Collections

Browse over twenty thousand entries for cataloged Museum Archives materials.

Search Our Collections

Featured Archival Research

A recent article featured the Lilian E. Beaumont Collection of Artworks by E. F. Beaumont.

OI News & Notes 227